Of Priorities and Justice

 

Majistret Cuti Sakit Bicara Kes Fazura Ditangguh

 

KUALA LUMPUR 24 April – Perbicaraan kes pelakon, Fazura yang sedang membela diri atas tuduhan mencederakan seorang suri rumah di Mahkamah Majistret di sini hari ini ditangguh esok kerana Majistret Aizatul Akmal Maharani bercuti sakit.

 

Dalam prosiding esok, saksi kedua pembela, Shahrizan Mohd. Rodzi yang sebelum ini tidak dapat hadir ke mahkamah dijangka memberi keterangan.

 

Peguam yang mewakili Fazura, Fakhrul Azman Abu Hassan tidak kelihatan begitu juga pelakon itu kerana difahamkan mereka telah dimaklumkan lebih awal.

 

Pada 27 Mac lalu, perbicaraan terpaksa ditangguhkan berikutan Shahrizan tidak dapat hadir kerana terpaksa ke Melaka atas urusan penting.

 

Sementara dua lagi saksi juga tidak hadir untuk menggantikan Shahrizan kerana mereka telah dimaklumkan hanya akan memberi keterangan selepas selesai saksi kedua itu.

 

Dalam kes ini, Fazura atau Nur Fazura Sharifudin, 24, didakwa mencederakan Geraldine Mariana Wong, 33, di Bar Luna Pacific Regency Hotel & Apartments, Jalan Kia Peng di sini kira-kira pukul 1.20 pagi, 19 Disember 2004.

 

Pelakon filem dan drama bersiri Gol & Gincu itu dituduh mengikut Seksyen 323 Kanun Keseksaan yang memperuntuk hukuman penjara sehingga setahun atau denda RM2,000 atau kedua-duanya jika disabitkan kesalahan.

 

Who gives a damn f**k about this cat-fight case?

 

At the same day when the Malaysian diplomatic ties with Mongolia is threatened to be severed due to the illogical and incomprehensible lousy progress of the Altantuya murder trial, Utusan Malaysia (both hardcopy and online version) decides that that news is not as important as the cat-fight story and its delay caused by a sick Magistrate of leave is somewhat ‘amusing’.

 

For me, it is amusing for the fact that such important news that will reflect the Malaysian government’s standing and the Malaysian judiciary’s credibility be overlooked by our ‘esteemed’ journalists and reporters. I doubt that they did not cover the press conference and I doubt that the reporter on duty fail to make ready the story to meet the printing deadline. So what actually happened?

 

In history we can see that an act of severing diplomatic ties between countries often escalates to something worse. The Empire of Japan severed its diplomatic ties with the United States few hours before the Imperial navy planes lay waste to the American fleet anchored at Pearl Harbour is one of the examples. In the Malaysian-Mongolian context, I doubt that the Khan’s cavalry will come knocking at our doors brandishing swords, spears and all moment after such threat of diplomatic severance is realised. Though improbability of such aggression gives us relief, I do believe that the aftershocks of such severance will scar Malaysia permanently.

 

In the eyes of the world we are known as a nation that goes against things that is not humanely right. We condemn the Apartheid. We dis-acknowledge Israel’s sovereignty so on and so forth. It seems that that ‘going against’ stance has been reversed against Malaysia herself. Now Malaysia is the one that is criticised and perhaps shunned in the near future.

 

I personally applaud the government’s intention and move to help create a better functioning judiciary through judicial reform and I believe that all Malaysians regardless of political allegiances will agree to that. Though noble, such reform will not happen if there is no positive action in the justice system itself. For example in the Altantuya’s case, all who are in their right state of mind will able to see that the proceeding of the case seems to be bogged down by trivial issues raised by the counsels for unknown reasons. Perhaps its time that the judiciary, in particular the Altantuya case, wrest and take command of the case thus help resolve this matter in the best way possible.

 

Personally I sympathise with Dr Setev. He had endured what most fathers hope not to endure. He lost his daughter in the cruelest way imaginable and now he has to wait for justice to be done. His recent outburst shows that apart from his never ending grief, his faith in the Malaysian justice system is waning and wearing thin.

 

In law school, students are often reminded with the maxim “Justice Delayed is Justice Denied”. I personally think that that maxim will reflect most of Dr Setev’s situation. Let us not deny justice to a lamenting father of a murdered daughter. Let us act to ensure that justice be done. Let us act to ensure that those who are guilty be made responsible and accountable for their inhumane actions. And for the MSMs, be professional. Justice For Altantuya!!!