Week In Review

Najib Razak’s conviction may become a precedent for other Muslim countries

Dhu al-Hijjah 15, 14412020-08-05

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While in most Muslim countries, Western backed leaders’ often do not face legal repercussions for their corrupt practices, Malaysia seems to have become one of the rare positive exceptions.

Writing for Asia Times, Dr Chandra Muzaffar, president of the International Movement for a Just World (JUST), points out that “one, Najib’s conviction reminds us that the Malaysian judiciary – whatever its warts and pimples – has over the decades found well-known public figures guilty of wrongdoings and punished them accordingly. There are not many judicial systems in the world that have done this without fear or favor. Two, it is equally remarkable that the executive, specifically Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, upheld his pledge not to interfere in the judicial process though the man in the dock is still a political leader of considerable weight in UMNO, the main component party of the ruling PN.”

Najib Razak’s conviction might trigger Muslims elsewhere to set a higher benchmark of public accountability in other parts of the Muslim world.

Courtesy: Asia Times

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