I would’ve done it again, says Rafizi

Chan Kok Leong Chan Kok Leong Updated 6 years ago · Published on 1 Jun 2018 11:47AM · 1 Comments

Rafizi Ramli, whose 18-month jail sentence for revealing the contents of the Auditor-General's Report on the 1 Malaysia Development Berhad was set aside by the Court of Appeal today, says it is his duty to expose scandals. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, June 1, 2018.

THE best thing that came out of today’s court decision is that the court recognises whistleblowing when done selflessly is good for the nation, said Rafizi Ramli.

“The decision mitigates what whistleblowers have to go through,” said the former Pandan MP at the Palace of Justice today.

“Most importantly, today’s result shows that our authorities, enforcement officers and the judiciary have discretion when they decide on something,” said Rafizi.

He said whistleblowers have to endure public ridicule and a lot of pressure.

“But given a second chance, I would’ve done it again,” he added.

Rafizi believes that it was his duty to expose cases such as the National Feedlot Corporation and 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandals.

“Sometimes, we can’t calculate all the costs. My decision (to expose the scandals) was right. Faced with the same moral issues I would’ve done it again,” said Rafizi.

Since exposing the NFC scandal in 2011 and the Auditor-General’s Report on 1Malaysia Development Berhad, Rafizi has faced numerous charges and defamation cases. It was up to 14 at one time.

For his role, Rafizi was found guilty of contravening the laws on the Officials Secrets Act (1MDB case) and the Banking and Financial Institutions Act or BAFIA (NFC case).

In the OSA case, he was sentenced to 18 months’ jail. He was also sentenced to 30 months’ jail for contravening BAFIA in the NFC case.

Today, the Court of Appeal allowed his appeal against the OSA sentence and changed it into a non-custodial sentence instead.

“If our society believes in right and wrong and takes into consideration the effects on society when someone whistle blows, we will be on the right track as a nation.

“But not having to go to jail for this, it was worth it,” said 40-year-old politician, who decided not to contest in GE14 after he was sentenced to two jail terms for his exposé. – June 1, 2018

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Comments

  • Rafizi should have been honoured as a national hero for exposing all these mega corruption, and it was the corrupted who should have charged for hiding behind the laws in relation to such infringement of OSA and BAFIA.
    But the law enforcing authorities – MACC, police, AG and judiciary – had done the exact opposite under the corrupt Umno/BN regime.
    With Harapan taking over the government, we now begin to see true justice seeping through these institutions.
    And the Malaysian voter can now begin to see the reward of his wise decision gradually suffacing.

    Posted 6 years ago by Kim quek · Reply