OPPOSITION MAKING
There’s little furore when govt officials are remanded, says veteran lawyer
AVETERAN lawyer has expressed surprise that there is little furore from the opposition when government personalities are remanded compared to those in its circles.
In a statement yesterday, Tan Sri Dr Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said remand orders were routinely issued by magistrates on government servants, ministers, members of parliament and state executive councils.
For example, he said, the arrest of former Felda Global Ventures Holdings (FGV) Bhd chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad, who was detained on Aug 15, to facilitate a probe into Felda Investment Corporation’s (FIC) hotel purchases in London and Kuching.
“It would seem that if any governmentrelated person is taken through that process, no one criticises the enforcement agencies for being harsh, not from any opposition members nor the Bar Council.
“But if a member of the opposition is put through the same process of investigations, controversies are likely to be created by interested parties by spinning stories that the alleged offender is being victimised,” he said.
Shafee was referring to the outcry by the opposition over the arrest by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and subsequent remand of Penang Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh to facilitate a probe into the illegal carbon filter factory in Sungai Lembu, Bukit Mertajam.
It was reported that Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had described Phee’s arrest over the case as “illegal”.
Phee was remanded for five days by the Penang magistrate’s court on Aug 12. However two days later, he was released when the Penang High Court rescinded the remand order.
“It is not uncommon for anyone arrested for a serious offence by the MACC to be remanded beyond the 24-hour period up to the maximum seven to 14 days.”
He pointed out the subdued reaction by opposition-linked media over the remand of then Johor state executive councillor Datuk Abd Latif Bandi, who was arrested on March 9, and remanded the next day to facilitate a probe into alleged real estate corruption.
“His (Latif’s) case was also widely reported.
“The media reported Latif ’s case widely