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Pages from the Past Who Lied About UMNO? Aliran Monthly 2003:9 Please support our work by buying a copy of our print publication, Aliran Monthly, from your nearest news-stand. Better still take out a subscription now. We also welcome donations.
I did not lie about UMNO. When all else is forgotten, this question alone may remain to haunt us: Did I lie when I said the Prime Minister of Malaysia accused me of being biased in cases involving the political party, UMNO, the United Malays National Organisation? Did I invent this story that the Prime Minister raised the matter when he gave me the reasons why I was found unsuitable to remain Lord President of the Supreme Court of Malaysia and should therefore step down? That because of my speeches about UMNO I was biased as a judge?
So who was telling the truth? The Prime Minister or the Lord President? It will be difficult to prove that it was I who was telling the truth because I had no witnesses, while the Prime Minister had two very impressive-looking witnesses - one was his Government and Party deputy, Deputy Prime Minister, Encik Abdul Ghafar Baba, and the second, his top civil servant, Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Sallehuddin Mohammed. Would they bear witness against their superior, even to save the honour of an innocent man? It would be a great deal to ask. Therefore I must leave the answer to history ... The historian must look at me as a person. He must examine my record in private as well as public life. Was my character that of a mendacious person? Would I have lied? ... I have no doubt — and few would now disagree — that it was the UMNO saga that led to my destruction as a judge.
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I have no doubt — and few would now disagree — that it was the UMNO saga that led to my destruction as a judge.
