Letter to Editor
IN his commentary in Malaysiakini, veteran journalist P. Gunasegaram called Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s recent clearance from corruption allegations “hasty”, suggesting that “so many things remain un-investigated.”
It’s the kind of line that plays well on social media – dramatic, suspicious and conveniently vague.
But the truth is, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has not swept anything under the rug. Hajiji was interviewed twice. Multiple witnesses were called.
Those viral videos that supposedly implicated him? Forensic experts found signs of tampering and editing, making them inadmissible in court.
What more do you want – a televised confession for a crime that involve Hajiji?
It’s deeply troubling when facts are ignored just because they’re inconvenient. The MACC did what any enforcement body is supposed to do: assess the evidence, investigate all leads, and publicly declare the status of the case.
They even made it clear that the probe isn’t over – only that Hajiji, based on available evidence is not involved. That’s not a cover-up. That’s how justice is supposed to work.
Trial by TikTok?
What’s actually “hasty” here is the rush to judgment. And it’s happening on TikTok, in WhatsApp groups – and unfortunately — in supposedly serious columns.
Let’s talk about those videos. Several Sabah assemblymen were captured in secretly recorded conversations. MACC showed them the videos and asked for explanations. The clips were later found to be selectively doctored.
Is that the gold standard for a corruption conviction now – chopped-up footage with no context, no metadata and no proper chain of custody?
Gunasegaram implies that the MACC’s timing is suspicious – close to elections – with the Prime Minister allied to Hajiji. He even hints at quid pro quo involving MACC head honcho Tan Sri Azam Baki’s tenure as MACC chief. No evidence, just insinuation.
We’ve seen this tactic before. Throw enough mud and some of it sticks even when the facts say otherwise.
Here’s the real problem: when we keep treating every exoneration as a failure, we’re saying the only acceptable outcome is guilt. That’s not justice – that’s a witch hunt!
It’s not just unfair to Hajiji. It undermines every legitimate anti-corruption effort. It sends a message that nobody can ever be cleared without being accused of fixing the system. And that erodes public trust in institutions.
Yes, public accountability matters. Yes, scrutiny is healthy. But what’s unhealthy is when suspicion becomes sport – when being declared innocent is somehow more controversial than being found guilty.
Let’s be angry at actual corruption, not at investigators who won’t play along with a pre-written narrative.
If new evidence surfaces – by all means – re-open the file. But until then, Hajiji deserves what every citizen does: the right not to have their name dragged through the mud without proof.
In the end, we have to ask ourselves: do we believe in due process or do we only believe in drama? – April 16, 2025
Simon Silin Noh
Keningau
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image credit: Bernama
