Judges rule OK!
The upholding of the sentence imposed by the Sessions Court on the former Inspector-General of Police, Abdul Rahim Noor, by the Appeals Court on Monday proves, beyond doubt, what many of us - ordinary, apolitical Malaysians - have been hoping for; that there still exists, within our judiciary, judges of sterling quality who would not hesitate to act justly if only they be allowed do what they have sworn to do to, i.e. sit in judgment!
To me, the particular remark made by Justice Shaik Daud Mohd Ismail reminding the subordinate courts to act decisively on police officers who commit wanton acts of violence on the public or on their captives, was the epitome of what justice and fairness actually mean - qualities which, for the past couple of years, seem to be sorely lacking in the eminent people entrusted with the onerous responsibilities of being impartial referees when disputes between those in uniform and those without come before them for adjudication.
Alas, neither the quantum of the period of detention nor the fine should be at issue - the fact that the three wise judges did what they did - as they rightly should - has signalled to us, ordinary Malaysians, that the flickering light of justice for all Malaysians is still burning and, hopefully, would be permitted to show its luminance more often than is currently being done!
Kudos, too, goes to the public prosecutor for pursuing this matter to its penultimate ending!
Now that the legal system has performed its functions as entrusted upon it by our constitution, can we expect the prison authorities to, similarly, carry out its task without 'fear or favour'?
