1MDB Case Decision: A Manifestation Of Justice, Not Political Victory - ABIM
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 27 (Bernama) -- The High Court's decision on the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal should not be seen as a political victory or the downfall of a particular individual, but as a manifestation of institutional justice upheld in the interest of the people and the country.
Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (ABIM) president Ahmad Fahmi Mohd Samsudin said that although the decision is still subject to the appeal process permitted by law, the High Court's consideration was made based on evidence and the principle of the rule of law.
He said the decision was the result of a long and transparent legal process, thus emphasising that no individual is above the law.
"It should be accepted with full maturity as the basis for restoring public confidence in the judicial system and national institutions, as well as a reminder that justice must be upheld through a legal and civilised process," he said in a statement today.
Yesterday, the High Court here sentenced Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, 72, to 15 years in prison and a fine of RM11.4 billion after he was found guilty of four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds.
Ahmad Fahmi said justice was not simply the result of the courage of a particular individual, but was born from an ecosystem of struggle for truth together with investigative journalists, whistleblowers, officers of institutions with integrity, civil society activists, academics and citizens who consistently defended the truth despite facing pressure and risk.
He said the 1MDB scandal was not just a financial crime, but a crime against trust and civilization that robbed the future of the younger generation, damaged the people's trust, tarnished political integrity, and damaged the country's good name internationally as one of the world's largest cases of kleptocracy.
"This fact reflects the failure of governance due to the centralisation of power without an effective oversight mechanism and without the backing of strong moral values," he said.
He said the heavy sentence imposed was not for revenge, but as a reminder that betrayal of the people's trust has serious consequences and punishing individuals alone is not enough if the system that allows abuse of power continues to be fragile.
He said the decision should be a catalyst for the MADANI Government's reforms in the country's governance structure, including strengthening the system of checks and balances, the independence of the judiciary, transparency in the management of public funds, and the rejection of a political culture that builds a cult of the individual.
"ABIM urges that the lessons of the 1MDB scandal be used to reassess the centralisation of executive and fiscal power, including discussing the separation of the positions of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance, as well as the separation of the roles of the Attorney General and the Public Prosecutor, as long-term preventive measures to strengthen the people's trust and confidence," he said.
Ahmad Fahmi said the court's decision should be an important lesson to politicians and the younger generation, as the normalisation of large-scale corruption and money politics will erode values and undermine confidence in the country's future.
-- BERNAMA
