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KUALA LUMPUR – Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders must be mindful of their words following the general election as there is no point in issuing statements that would jeopardise the working relationship of the BN-PH unity government, said Pulai Umno chief Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed.
In a statement, Nur Jazlan cited both PKR’s Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim, who had cautioned Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim against appointing MPs with court cases into his cabinet.
“I would like to remind them of the common law jurisprudence that Malaysia inherited from the UK of ‘innocent until proven guilty’ that is deeply entrenched in our own legal and justice system.
“I would like to remind PH of the United Nations’ incorporation of this principle in its Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 under article 11 (1) and the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Article 14 (2).
“The principle was equally adopted in the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights in 1953 Article 6 (2),” he said.
The time to issue fiery and rhetorical statements, he stressed, has been over since last week when the rakyat spoke through their ballot boxes.
“No party or coalition had the majority to lead the government. The BN chairman was big-hearted to change his original stance upon the advice of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” he said.
Nur Jazlan also credited Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as the person who united the BN leadership to support Anwar as prime minister.
“There were no preconditions set by any coalition, including Anwar, as to who should and should not serve in the cabinet.
“It was magnanimous of the BN chairman to lend PH and Anwar his support despite the uneasiness of BN MPs.”
Zahid, he stressed, placed the priority of the nation to ensure we have a stable government.
“He did not hold PH’s wild accusations and mudslinging against BN during the campaign period against Anwar or PH, and acted in good faith.
“Likewise, PH should repay Zahid’s earnestness by showing their genuine intention to make the new government stable and free from unnecessary politicking and criticisms that would hurt the long-term relationship of the BN-PH partnership.
“So let me remind some individuals from PH not to be short-sighted and ignore international standards of human rights and put the government of Anwar Ibrahim at risk.
“Let us not judge individuals through the court of public opinion and let the courts decide on these cases.
“We have all come together to put our faith in Anwar to save this country.
“At this time we should focus on the people and the nation’s needs,” he added. – The Vibes, November 28, 2022