COMMENT No one is above the law.

In a forum some months ago, I publicly defended the legal right of Prime Minister Najib Razak, and for that matter any political leader, to take legal action against anyone who makes deliberate and malicious defamatory remarks.

The private legal right of a politician should not be diminished nor denied merely because one is a political leader.

But singling out Ling Liong Sik for alleged defamation, on what is essentially a hotly debated public issue, is nauseating.

Ling merely repeated, or echoed calls of an 'aspersion' that has been in the public domain for months.

Mahathir's charges or 'defamatory remarks' against Najib (if not substantiated by Mahathir when challenged in courts by Najib) have been continuous and a lot more severe as compared to the alleged aspersion made by Ling.

International and domestic media, political leaders from both political divides, academicians, corporate leaders, bankers, opinion leaders and indeed members of the public from all walks of life have been critical and have entertained doubts over the controversies arising from 1MDB and the RM2.6 billion political funding.

The Conference of Rulers (photo) has equally expressed their royal highnesses' grave concerns over the negative impact that 1MDB has caused the nation.

Controversies regarding 1MDB and the RM2.6 billion may well be two separate issues. But they are allegedly connected and have been the subject of international scrutiny and have attracted endless discussions in public.

In short, the controversies have become public issues that invite public comments. They will continue to attract public attention until such time they are satisfactory resolved.

PM perilously ill-advised

Matters of such public concern and gravity must be resolved openly to dispel all doubt and speculation and to restore the confidence in our public administration. Hence my earlier call for a royal commission (RCI) to inquire into these matters.

It is indeed very unusual for the Conference of Rulers to openly express their opinion on an issue of public administration and this reflects the seriousness accorded by the Rulers to the 1MDB affair which has captured national and international attention.

Following the concerns of the Conference of Rulers yesterday, I am renewing my call for an RCI. A finality to these issues is sorely required in the interest of our beloved nation and people.

There are millions of Lings in these controversies. Ling is definitely not alone. I don't believe that all has been said by the people about these controversies are malicious, nor so as it seems to me by Ling.

Najib has been perilously ill advised for months. I sincerely hope my party leaders can stand up for justice in these matters - a cause that MCA advocates, not only for Ling , but also for the people.

GAN PING SIEU is a former MCA vice-president and co-president of think-tank Centre For A Better Tomorrow (Cenbet).