There’s nothing wrong with the law, insists Nazri

PUTRAJAYA: The Government will not be amending laws pertaining to sexual assault and rape against minors, as they are already adequate.

“I don’t see anything wrong with the law,” said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of law Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.

While the Cabinet had discussed the recent string of controversial court decisions in cases involving statutory rape, it would not review the law, he said.

“There is no need. The question here is the sentencing, and it is up to the courts to mete out the punishment,” he said.

However, he said he had met the Chief Justice over the contents of a memorandum handed to him by Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Heng Seai Kie earlier this week.

It was reported that the memorandum would include requests to review the law.

Nazri also refused to be drawn into any debate over court decisions despite Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail’s hard-hitting statement which was front-paged on The Star yesterday.

“The A-G is free to give his opinion,” said Nazri. “But as minister, I don’t wish to add to it, to maintain the separation of powers.

“As the member of the Executive, we don’t want to tell the Judiciary what to do, then it would be interpreted as interfering,” he added.

At the same time, Nazri was sure that the Judiciary had taken notice to redress and take action based on public perception.

The A-G had hit out at the court decisions which saw convicted statutory rapists escaping jail time and being given good behaviour bond instead.

Abdul Gani said such rape cases needed deterrent sentences to show the public’s abhorrence and re- vulsion towards such heinous crimes.

In a related development, the Bar Council has called for the setting up of a sentencing council to provide guidelines for judges, in a move to promote consistency in appropriating punishment.

Its president Lim Chee Wee said the council could comprise judges, prosecutors, civil societies, defence lawyers and academics.

Sources: The Star  Sept 2012 

LA:Just folllow the rules.

PM willing to meet father of mooning student

BESUT (Sept 6, 2012): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak is willing to meet the father of a college student over the teenager's indecent and rude act at the "Janji Demokrasi" gathering on Merdeka eve, Aug 30.

The 19-year-old was caught on camera exposing his buttocks and stepping and squatting on the pictures of Najib, his wife and Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof during the gathering.

"There's no problem. I am prepared to meet anybody but the principle is, the process of the law cannot be compromised and must proceed. If he (teenager's father) wants to meet me, it can be arranged anytime," he said after attending a Hari Raya celebration in Kampung Tasek Tok Lebai, here, today.

The media reported the man wanting to meet Najib personally to apologise for his son's offensive behaviour.

Najib said everyone must respect the law.

Meanwhile, the management of a private college in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur where the teenager is studying, is reported to have decided to expel him over the incident.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said whether the student could appeal to continue his studies there would depend on the discretion of the college.

Earlier, in his speech at the function, the prime minister when touching on the uncivilised behaviour of some participants of the "Janji Demokrasi" gathering, said such thinking could hamper the struggle to build successful nationhood.

"A country can be independent, but building nationhood calls for obligations and having good values, and is based on our national ideology, that is the Rukun Negara.

"But recently, when a Merdeka celebration organised by the opposition was marred by such incidents as the exposing of buttocks, stepping on the photographs of national leaders and displaying a flag to replace the national flag, the quesion is, what were the values of the individuals involved?

"If this is the way, where the rulers are not respected, the constitution not upheld and the law ignored, what will happen in the future?" he said.

Najib said the upcoming 13th general election would not be just any election as it would determine the country's future.

Therefore, he said, a strong mandate should be given to the Barisan Nasional (BN) government and the right leaders be appropriately placed.

Najib also hoped that the state BN election machinery would focus on their tasks in order to win the upcoming elections by not allowing outside elements to cloud their considerations.

He said this time was not about the divisional elections, but about whether Umno and BN could remain in power or otherwise. --Bernama

Sources: The Sun 2012

LA: Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.I'm proud have a kindness PM.