EX-MINISTER'S PROSECUTION REFLECTS IMPARTIAL JUDICIAL SYSTEM - DPM

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said
Friday the prosecution of Dr Ling Liong Sik, a former transport minister,
reflected the impartiality of the country's judicial and legal system, contrary
to what the opposition claimed it to be.

He said it showed that the judicial system was just and transparent because
action was taken even against a former member of the Cabinet from the ruling
Barisan Nasional (BN).

"This is a matter of the law and investigation by the authorities ... when it
comes to a stage where the relevant authorities feel action has to be taken,
they will do so.

"It is normal for the opposition to issue statements when decisions are not in
their favour. They will cry injustice," he told reporters when asked to comment
on Dr Ling being charged in court on Thursday.

Dr Ling was accused in the Sessions Court in Putrajaya of knowingly
deceiving the Cabinet to approve a land purchase in Pulau Indah near here for the
purpose of the Mega Distribution Hub project in Port Klang, which resulted in
wrongful losses to the govern­ment.

Muhyiddin, approached by reporters after he had attended the 2010 Asean Schools
Games appreciation reception for athletes and officials, said he was confident
the authorities and the judicial system would be just to all quarters.

"We will leave it to the authorities and judicial system because all along we
have upheld the principle that a person is innocent until proven guilty," he
said.

Asked whether there was a need to set up a special committee to ensure that
members of the Cabinet did not divulge false information, Muhyiddin said the
existing system was still applicable.
-- BERNAMA