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©New Straits Times
(Used by permission)
by Marc Lourdes
KUALA LUMPUR: The rule of law is more relevant than ever in today's era of
globalisation.
Former British prime minister Tony Blair, in a lecture on the
subject yesterday, said the concept was important in the world today as it
ensured that globalisation was benign.
Blair, who was speaking at Universiti Malaya's 22nd Sultan Azlan Shah Law
Lecture in a hotel here yesterday, said the rule of law meant a judiciary that
was independent from the government of the day and not subservient to it.
His arrival was greeted with a protest outside the hotel by a group of about 50
student activists from various universities around the country.
Calling themselves Gabungan Anak Muda Islam SeMalaysia (Gamis), the group staged
a 30-minute rally denouncing Universiti Malaya for inviting Blair to speak.
Their slogans echoed the views of former prime minister Tun
Dr Mahathir Mohammad -- that it was hypocritical of Blair to speak on the rule
of law as it was his administration that decided to invade Iraq.
The protests outside were a surreal contrast to the situation inside, where
other university students were proudly ushering in guests and studiously taking
notes during Blair's lecture.
"Frequently, I am asked to help the poorest nations in the world, many of whom
have already received billions of dollars in aid over many decades.
"I reply, 'get good governance. Get a proper judiciary, proper laws'.
"Get a reputation that there is a commercial and criminal legal system that
operates fairly and then wait for businesses to come, because they will.
"But they will not come to nations that treat the rule of law as an optional
extra, or even worse, as an impediment," he said at the lecture which drew
several hundred people, including judges, politicians, academics and students.
Blair said the rule of law was no longer a matter of principle.
It was a critical ingredient to a successful modern nation, as it ensured
economic success and was imperative to creating a well functioning society.
On the other hand, a corrupt judiciary was a sign that a country was in decline.
The rule of law, Blair added, also meant laws that were clear, could be
understood and applicable.
"It means rules and procedures that are transparent, and rules of evidence that
make sense and are fair.
"These basic principles apply universally and without them, the rule of law
means little or nothing."
Blair said that while the rule of law was an arbiter and a guide, it was also
fallible.
However, he added, its inadequacies were not born of corruption or malice, and
its errors paled in comparison to its virtues.
"Though in exceptional circumstances that it is possible to have the rule of law
without true democracy, it is impossible to have true democracy without the rule
of law.
"The rule of law is an indispensable part of good governance, and good
governance is an indispensable part of a successful state," he said.
"I have long ago learned to distrust the myth that some people love democracy
and some people are at ease with dictatorship, that some revere the rule of law
and some are indifferent to it, or that some prize liberty and some despise it.
"The truth is that people can be indifferent to the rule of law, except when
their own freedom is in jeopardy.
"And then by God, they value it," he said.
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Circular No 297/2008
The politicians cannot call themselves 'politicians on the one hand' while they ignore / consider Blair's advice as 'irrelevant to themselves on the other hand'. We need to remove ALL such HYPOCRITICAL politicians - who will certainly not 'dethrone' themselves!
Tan Peek Guat