Too Little, Too Late Justice

Much was expected at what Malaysiakini had billed as the "Dinner for Justice".

The former Lord President expected it.

The present PM did it. He found it to hard to say that simple word that many were waited to hear. The PM just could not say it. He could not say SORRY.

What could the PM say? He had much to say but not that simple word. He said ::

>"For me and for many other Malaysians, these towering judicial personalities represent a very different era for the nation's judiciary. Many felt that the judiciary then was a venerable institution which could be trusted to deliver justice. Some even hailed Malaysia's judiciary as a model for other countries – independent and credible."

>That the 1988 episode had been debated for many years but felt that judicial reform was only possible if a line was drawn under the event and everyone moved on.

>"Let us move on. I do not think it wise or helpful to revisit past decisions as it would only serve to prolong the sense of crisis – something our nation can do without. The rakyat wants movement and progress, not continuing strife."

>The government wanted to put on record the contribution of the six judges to the country and their commitment towards upholding justice and to acknowledge the pain and loss they have endured.

>"For Tan Sri Eusoffe and Tan Sri Wan Suleiman and their families, I know this sentiment is made too late. For Tun Salleh Abas, Tan Sri Azmi Kamaruddin, Tan Sri Wan Hamzah and Datuk George Seah, although this acknowledgement is 20 years too late, it is made with much hope that a measure of the pain and loss may yet be healed."

>In recognition of the contributions of the "six outstanding judges", the Government has decided to make goodwill ex gratia payments to them.

Why couldn't the PM say SORRY?

Will the judges and their family members who have been wronged for such a long long time accept this ex-gratia payments? Can the PM expect to do justice for those who have been wronged by the government ex-gratia payments? Will we learn anything if we now move on and not revisit past decisions? Won't we then continue to make wrong decisions and sweep wrongs under the proverbial carpet? Can mere currency take away all the pains and wrongs endured?

Now that we know that the BN government is not going to say SORRY to those wronged on our behalf will the Pakatan Rakyat do so?

Meanwhile, lets all of us continue to remember ::

>Tun Salleh Abas
>Datuk George Seah
>Tan Sri Wan Suleiman (the late)
>Tan Sri Azmi Kamaruddin
>Tan Sri Wan Hamzah
>Tan Sri Eusoffe Abdolcadeer (the late)

and the wrongs we have done them and the pains they must surely have endured.

Read the text of the PM keynote address at the "Dinner for Justice" here.