THE intrigue of the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal is finally unfolding in court, coming full circle in the hope that those responsible will be brought to justice.

Fulfilling the promise that the rule of law has returned. Or has it? 

The question on most people’s minds is whether this trial is enough to convince society that we have turned the corner in the fight against corruption and abuse of power. I don’t think so.

As long as we do not come together as Malaysians with mutual respect for one another, we will never achieve any of the objectives laid out in New Malaysia. We need our rule of law to act fairly on all matters. 

It is the only catalyst and unifying factor for our pluralistic society that encompasses the multiculturalism stretching from Perlis to Sabah.

Obviously, most of our politicians are not helping the cause, especially those who remain silent and sit on the fence. Many prefer to play safe for fear of losing votes in the next general election.

New Malaysia needs a statesman now more than ever before, amid all the controversial racial and religious rhetoric swirling within the political landscape. We are getting into a rut of the same old racial and religious issues that have bogged us down in the past.

We need to get out of this unnecessary abyss of cultural disrespect and bigotry if we are to become one as Malaysians.

The key to reform in our justice system is to strengthen the workings of the rule of law. We have to reduce the powers of the prime minister to appoint those who head the branches of our criminal justice system. 

This must then be followed up with reform to the overall parliamentary system focusing on the separation and the balance of powers between the legislative, executive and the judiciary. Parliament has to play a more influential role rather than the prime minister.
 
Even now after the debacles of the 1MDB, the allegations of enforced disappearances of Amri Che Mat and pastor Raymond Koh, the inability of the law to provide closure to the deaths of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, Teoh Beng Hock, Altantuya Shaariibuu and the sex clips of Haziq Abdullah Abdul Aziz.

We are falling short and the light at the end of the tunnel seems to be getting dimmer as we head closer towards the 15th general election.

The police have always been cautious when high-profile cases involving politics. It is simply because the top appointments are closely linked and subservient to the political master. This affects the overall application of the rule of law in the strictest interpretation available.

The argument that racial sensitivities are at stake is outdated, especially when the last election campaign centred on making the return of the rule of law supreme.

The intent to please the political masters, either out of fear or favour, is again becoming a worrying factor. 

Criminal investigations and prosecution must be efficient and swift if justice is to be seen to be done and if this can be implemented professionally, it will firmly act as an effective deterrent to those threatening peace. 

Only the rule of law, applied without fear or favour, will tone down all the racial and religious rhetoric in society.

For that to happen, you need an enforcement agency that applies the law by calling a spade a spade without being influenced by personal attachments to socio-political elements in society.

Most of us purchased a ticket in May 2018 and got on the train of “Hope for Malaysia”, trusting the train driver. Sadly after 15 months on board, the journey is still hazy. – August 29, 2019.

* G. Selva reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.