In a press conference with Pakatan leaders today, DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng said Rafizi’s recent prosecution was a big loss to the opposition alliance.
Describing Rafizi’s recent prosecution under the Official Secrets Act over the 1MDB issue as “a big win for BN”, Lim said he could relate to the time when he was unable to contest in elections for 10 years.
“I feel this is a win for BN. I am sure they are happy because they have killed someone’s political career.
“But I am sure Rafizi will soldier on. This is the ‘pahit manis’ (bittersweet moments) in a fight.
“I have gone through it. Couldn’t contest for 10 years… I am sure he will continue to fight,” Lim said outside the chambers of the Penang Legislative Assembly here today.
Describing Rafizi as a shining star in Pakatan Harapan, Lim likened him to the likes of Tony Pua, Liew Chin Tong and Nurul Izzah Anwar as the best young leaders in the opposition.
“I would like to question whether… I know the court has decided… but we must look at Rafizi’s mistake… he was merely blowing the whistle, he was stopping people from ‘makan dedak’ (animal feed, used as euphemism for bribes).
“I am not criticising the judiciary, but the attorney-general and BN.
“But let me stress ‘dedak’ should be eaten by animals, not humans. In Penang, we have a place for dedak feeding. But this is for animal husbandry,” Lim said.
Yesterday, the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court sentenced Rafizi, who is Pandan MP, to 18 months’ jail over two charges of leaking a page of the classified 1MDB audit report.
Article 48 of the Federal Constitution disqualifies a person from being an MP for five years should he be convicted and sentenced to more than one year’s jail term, or fined more than RM2,000.
Rafizi remains as MP as he has not exhausted his right to appeal.
Meanwhile, Lim went on to criticise the attorney-general for prosecuting Rafizi, but not other important cases of national interest.
“Recently, someone was prosecuted for insulting the Inspector-General of Police on Facebook.
“If that is the case, why no action was taken against those who had said nasty things about me? As the CM, I, too, am a leader of the people and one of the country’s leaders. It is clear the AG has double standards.”
Lim hopes the AG will not prosecute opposition leaders further as it spoils their chances for contesting in the next general election.