Dignity denied

I have a niece who is a chambering full lawyer-to-be, and she invited me to join the KL Bar Committee’s dialogue with the judges some time ago. I was delighted and made the time to go, although I did not then even know the difference between the offices of the Malaysian Bar Council and those of the KL Bar. It all finally meant a little more walking and arriving about 15 minutes late; as I had also opted to take the LRT into KL.

There I saw and witnessed the KL Bar Committee having a dialogue with the judges; I think about three of them. What was fascinating for me was the honesty and sincerity with which many of their members spoke; whether younger or older ones.

I happened to also hear my very good friend and Old Putera from G Company, Jagjit Singh, speak of his frustration and annoyance that judges were not using their brains and humane consideration over “medical certificates issued to affirm the unavailability of lawyers who were therefore seeking case postponements”.

He even actually named and shamed the judge, in that particular case a magistrate in Pahang, as he mentioned the specific complaint. The listening judges were even taking notes and later rebutted and explained their views and responses, but I had left and could not hear them.  

Therefore, I was totally shocked and not amused at all to hear that the same story had now repeated itself in real life and my friend actually fainted in court because “the so-called judge” refused to allow a postponement even when it was obvious to all in the court from the day before that Jagjit Singh was not well and appeared to have bronchitis. I simply call this voluntary but compulsory idiocracy; and thus dignity denied.

Let me forewarn the specific judge and all “such office-bearers” of public jurisdictions that human dignity is accorded not by man but by our creator God. And my studies affirm that both the UN Declaration of Human Rights and many other legal provisions, including the federal constitution, disallow the ignorance of such a very human dignity for all beings.

Therefore any violation of such a declared and presumed dignity of any human being is not acceptable; whether you call the victim Aminurulrashid or Teoh Beng Hock or Kugan. Most animal activists would even argue such rights for animals, but I will not go that far. Animals do not have dignity in my lexicon.

Suffice to say that if, and I pray nothing like this would happen, my friend Jagjit is permanently injured as a result of the “denial of basic human courtesy and justice”, rest assured dear judge that you will have a case of criminal negligence filed against you by me and every honourable Old Putera Association member; not to mention all other justice-loving human Malaysians.

So, dear Malaysians, let us not allow the rotting smell of our public space concerns and considerations for other human beings in our midst be shallow. If authorities abuse their role and position of power before the law, we do not have to take the law into our own hands as they did like in Tunisia or Egypt; but, we will and must seek due and proper justice before we allow such abuse to become of a larger-scale problem.

Tolerance for wrongdoing allows the rise of despots

In fact, I was reminded in an excellent sermon last Sunday about “the fine slicing of the salami” and “the boiled frog theory” about how our ordinary tolerance of so much wrongdoing is what allows and makes room later for the rise of despots and autocrats who lose all sense of what it means to be good, true, being honest and fair. Talibans do not rise in one generation!

Dear Chief Judge, I therefore expect to see that particular judge removed from any public and active judicial roles. He or she needs must also be removed from any adjudication roles immediately and then finally removed completely from the judicial system. People First, Performance Now, as Najib Abdul Razak says.

If the Chief Judge or whoever responsible for discipline in the judicial service cannot do that; maybe it is time for the Bar Council to see towards criminal action against the said person. If the Bar Council needs a complainant; I volunteer to be the person, simply because Jagjit is an RMC Old Putera and a very good friend of mine.

Now, why am I so disgusted by all this “tolerance for so much wrongdoing?” Frankly, my greater anger is at Malaysians who are too busy only taking care of their private and personal interests and ignoring and allowing public interest issues to remain only that of ‘enforcement officers’ or politicians.

Is not the human dignity of another the concern of every able-bodied Malaysian? Did we all not hear the story of how the Christians kept silent when the Germans soldiers came to arrest their Jewish neighbors… only because they were not of the same faith?

Then later, they came for the Christians and it was too late.

Merely having self interest and concerns for self-survival cannot become the operating value of our public space, because then it is too late and it boils over to public anger and public protests.

Speak up about public space abuse issues

As Malaysians who want a developed nation in our own mould, we must always speak up and out over public space abuse issues and concerns; whether ours or those of our neighbors. We must and should not be cowed by strong-arm tactics of abusive authorities whether they come in the colour of ignorant judges or green religionists or crooked public servants.

For those not familiar, please read about all the wrongs that have taken place within the historic Catholic Church, and all this was done “In the Name of God”. Therefore, let me caution and say, sometimes, those who shout God’s name too early and too fast are often the worst crooks and culprits.

Dear friends and all Malaysians, let us say no to all this corruption and abuse in Malaysia wherever it is found; whether within the government, or with the opposition within any of the states; or, even with the royalty.

A developed Malaysia in our own mould is what the Bapa Malaysia’s National Unity vision anticipated. To become a developed nation is not simply to build new 100-storey buildings, when we do not care for the quality of our lived environment.  

The quality of care and courtesy in our lived environment and the quality of the air we breathe, the fair prices we pay in the market place, and efficient delivery of customer care and services by all and sundry, is what makes for a developed society.

As Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said very well when he was prime minister; we cannot have first world infrastructure but have third world mentality.

Let me repeat it in my own words, we cannot have the prime minister vowing a 1Malaysia with a People First and Performance Now slogan but have beautiful court buildings and facilities but not knowing how to be concerned for the lawyer who is physically sick and legally unwell being forced to service his client only because one judge has mud in his head and evil in his heart. May God forgive us in Malaysia.