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Indira’s plight - disappointing response from minister

LETTER | I refer to the Human Resource Minister M Kulasegaran’s recent response to the plight of Indira Gandhi (above) whereby he said, “…it would be very improper to interfere in another minister’s portfolio.”

It’s baffling – indeed disappointing - to hear this coming from a chap who spent much of his political career bashing BN ministers for their shortcomings

Whilst I appreciate the need for adhering to protocol now that he is a federal minister, nevertheless since when did that negate the need for compassion and the search for justice? This is compounded by what I feel is an even more lame response by de facto law minister Liew Vui Keong, who suggested that Indira must “initiate legal proceedings against her former husband”.

Sorry, but that sounds like a half-baked – even nonsensical - solution from a minister who is supposed to be in charge of the law. What further “legal proceeding” must Indira undertake when the court has decided in her favour?

All that remains are for the authorities to enforce the said decision. Failing which, the ministers/cabinet must then step in and direct the necessary agencies to do so.

How then is that deemed as “interfering”? After all, isn’t a government also supposed to ensure justice is administered? Was it too difficult for Kulasegaran to impress upon Indira that he could raise the matter at the cabinet and seek a speedy way forward? As opposed to a feeble “cannot interfere”?

How I wish both Kulasegaran and Liew would show a modicum of urgency as in the same manner the Pakatan Harapan government is going after the 1MDB looters.

Have they forgotten what prime minister Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad promised the rakyat? Or what his aspiration is? That is, the Harapan government will be a government that adheres to the rule of law?

What “rule of law” is Harapan promoting when you fail to administer justice long after the court has decided?

If I may paraphrase a quote from the movie, As Good As It Gets, someone is drowning but all Kulasegaran does is describe the water.

If he maintains that mindset, then he would be no different from the very BN ministers that he was critical of during his days in the opposition.


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