KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 — Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today the prosecution of Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, a former transport minister, reflected the impartiality of the country’s judicial and legal system, contrary to what the opposition claimed it to be.
He said it showed that the judicial system was just and transparent because action was taken even against a former member of the Cabinet from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN).
“This is a matter of the law and investigation by the authorities ... when it comes to a stage where the relevant authorities feel action has to be taken, they will do so.
“It is normal for the opposition to issue statements when decisions are not in their favour. They will cry injustice,” he told reporters when asked to comment on Dr Ling being charged in court yesterday.
Dr Ling was accused in the Sessions Court in Putrajaya of knowingly deceiving the Cabinet to approve a land purchase in Pulau Indah for the purpose of the Mega Distribution Hub project in Port Klang, which resulted in wrongful losses to the government.
Muhyiddin, approached by reporters after he had attended the 2010 Asean Schools Games appreciation reception for athletes and officials, said he was confident the authorities and the judicial system would be just to all quarters.
“We will leave it to the authorities and judicial system because all along we have upheld the principle that a person is innocent until proven guilty,” he said.
Asked whether there was a need to set up a special committee to ensure that members of the Cabinet did not divulge false information, Muhyiddin said the existing system was still applicable. — Bernama
