When last week, charged with aiding and abetting in the murder of a beautiful Mongolian model (for details go to http://the-malaysian.blogspot.com/2006/11/is-abdul-razak-baginda-political.html ) he was released on bail on medical grounds, one hoped that his state of health did really warrant such an act of mercy. But then again, a charged man is innocent until proven guilty and the onus is on the prosecution to prove his guilt beyond a shadow of a doubt. Not vice-versa. All the accused has to do under these circumstances is to produce a bond to the court the worth of which should be debilitating enough to discourage any thought of absconding. This, Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda together with the support of his siblings, fulfilled to the satisfaction of the court.
No doubt this is a high profile case and public appetite is indeed whetted. Kuala Lumpur's rumour mill is running overtime with all manner of speculations and gossips that do not bear repeating here, or anywhere for that matter, for its possible litigious consequences.
What of Abdul Razak, the public persona? He has become high society with a nice home in a salubrious part of the capital. From a young, earnest, pleasant and cheerful academic he climbed up the ladder of generally received success to become a close aide of the present Deputy Prime Minister, having moved with the man through a couple of portfolios. Last I met him a few years back at one of the conferences his think-tank organised, Abdul Razak appeared to still possess the 'innocence' of his younger years -- which I pray has not translated into naivete with the years -- but looking tired and overworked, not that this stopped him from doing his job. He seemed to be a natural at networking. He even had time for a short chat with me. Is it any wonder then that he is, career-wise, where he is today, a high-flying intellectual once with his own talk show and newspaper column? He has done very well for himself and like the public I am left bewildered by the whole sorry episode. I can only reserve judgment on the matter and allow the courts to dutifully perform its function of upholding justice.
However, the truly distressing part of this real life whodunit, which has strangely not enraged too many Malaysians, media and masses both, is the involvement of serving police personnel reaching quite high up the managerial echelon. That this aspect of the case has not generated the same excitement speaks volumes of what the nation is on the road to becoming. Whichever way we wish to perceive of the matter it still is one of doom and gloom. If the perpetrators had been ex-police personnel, it would not have improved matters one iota. Of course, the Royal Commission report on the police was damning. Corruption, we were told, had crept into all levels of the police force. But this is no excuse for complacency. For every incident of possible misconduct and corruption there must be a huge public furore raised to keep the pressure on so that Malaysians may enjoy a predictable, safe and stable society, if not for now then for the future. (For a mainstream media take on the Royal Malaysian Police Force click http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?file=/columnists/2006/2/8/wongsulong/13330177&sec=Wong%20Su%20Long )
One last observation on the week that was. Lawyer for the defence and the famous attorney-cum-opposition politician Karpal Singh, who was there holding a watching brief for the victim's family, came out slugging, verbally, at each other. That added a farcical touch to an already surreal saga. Do we laugh or do we cry? You tell me, please.
(For those looking for a wicked laugh click http://malaysia-today.net/blog2006/holds.php?itemid=927 ).
Disclaimer: There is no malice intended in this final link. Its purpose is to bring joy to those who may visit with me and are without any idea that there is much mirth and methodical madness lurking in our midst. It is merely another element in this week's diary.
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