SHAMSUDIN NAWAWI
Pagi ini saya banyak terima whatsapp yang kata hari ini akan berlaku banyak drama di mahkamah.
Saya
jawab mudah sahaja "Encik ingat Mahkamah itu studio Jalan Ampas ke?"
Gini
lah.....tak usah nak drama lah... Raja Azlan Shah FCJ semasa dia menjatuhkan
hukuman terhadap Datuk Harun, Tuanku tulis
"It
is painful for me to have to sentence a man I know. I wish it were the duty of
some other judge to perform that task.
I believe
the very extensive coverage of this hearing in the press has permeated all
levels of our society. To me this healing seems to re - affirm the vitality of
the rule of law. But to many of us, this hearing also suggests a frightening
decay in the integrity of some of our leaders.
It has
given horrible illustrations of Lord Acton's aphorism "power tends to
corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely", and has focussed concern
on the need of some avowed limitations upon political authority.
I repeat
what I had said before - the law is no respect or of persons. Nevertheless it
will be impossible to ignore the fact that you are in a different category from
any person that I have ever tried. It would be impossible to ignore the fact
that, in the eyes of millions of our countrymen and women, you are a patriot
and a leader. Even those who differ from you in politics look upon you as a man
of high ideals. You had every chance to reach the greatest height of human
achievement. But half - way along the road, you allowed avarice to corrupt you.
It is incomprehensible how a man in your position could not in your own
conscience, recognise corruption for what it is. In so doing, you have not only
betrayed your party cause, for which you have spoken so eloquently, but also
the oath of office which you have taken and subscribed before your Sovereign
Ruler, and above all the law of which you are its servant."