KOTA KINABALU: Bersih Sabah is
standing firmly on their recent call to reject the appointment of Tan Sri
Herman Luping as one of the commisioners for the recently announced Royal
Commission of Inquiry (RCI).
In issuing a response to Tan
Sri Bernard Dompok’s recent statement which suggested that Bersih Sabah are
just trying to discredit the RCI, the members of the group would like to stress
that the need for commissioners of integrity is paramount.
“Is there actually a point
having RCI with great terms of reference (TOR) when you have commissioners and
a secretary who are tarnished and bias?” questioned spokesperson of Bersih
Sabah, Andrew Ambrose.
He further added that “Tan
Sri Herman Luping is no doubt, a person who has contributed much to the state
of Sabah. However, it is necessary to remind the government that one of the
basic principles of natural justice is nemo iudex in causa nua, which literally
translates to mean, ‘no one should be a judge in their own cause’.”
Such is the case with Tan
Sri Herman Luping, who, in his vast experience, was the State Attorney General
during PBS administration for year 1985 - 1986. He was even, at one point in
time, a Deputy Chief Minister as well during the Usno-led Alliance Government
(1967 - 1976).
Being a commissioner on the
RCI would mean that he would be involved in the investigation of legality of
the issuance of IC or granting of citizenships, and also the standard operating
procedures (SOP) within the time frame of which he was serving in a very high
position within the government. In short, he will be investigating his own
administration.
Bersih Sabah therefore would
like to ask a very important question to all the Sabahan leaders who agreed
with his appointment: Can or would Tan Sri Herman Luping be impartial and
independent in carrying out his duties in the RCI?
“We ask them to do the
honourable thing and reject the appointment and recuse themselves before we
have to openly highlight the problems. Any judge in the courts will have to
recuse himself in such a biased scenario. This is what we expect of the
proposed commissioners.” according to Andrew.
However, considering his
experience and involvement, Bersih Sabah welcomes any contribution and suggestions
on solutions and recommendations that may be given by Tan Sri Herman Luping
should he wish to cooperate as not one of the commissioners. The movement also
suggests that the RCI should call upon Tan Sri Herman Luping to be a witness or
deponent to tell his side of the story on the illegal immigrants and project
IC.
The demand to remove Tan Sri
Herman Luping is only the first of a series of revelations to be issued by
Bersih Sabah in the next coming weeks.
Bersih Sabah will be issuing
on Wednesday the next statement, this time on KY Mustafa, who was the state of
secretary from 24th April 2000 until 2nd July 2007, and succeeded by Datuk Seri
Panglima Sukarti Wakiman, who assumed office on 3rd July 2007.
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