Media statement (2) by Lim Guan Eng in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, 2^nd August 2012: 

DAP calls on the Attorney-General and the Federal Government to withdraw the charges against Rafizi Ramli 

PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli, well-known for his recent exposés in the RM250 million National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) "cows and condos" scandal, was arrested and charged yesterday over alleged violations of the Banking and Financial Institutions Act (BAFIA) in exposing banking details relating to the NFC scandal.

It is a fact that Rafizi's exposés had led to the indictment of Dato' Mohamad Salleh, NFC Chairman and husband of former Cabinet Minister and Wanita UMNO Chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil, on two counts of criminal breach of trust and two counts under the Companies Act 1965 involving the purchase of luxury condominiums.

Dato' Mohamad Salleh's indictment has proven that without Rafizi's exposé, no action would have been taken on this scandal involving RM250 million of public funds. If Dato’ Mohamad Salleh was not charged, then it is an entirely different story, but the fact that he now faces criminal charges proves that Rafizi had done the right thing by whistleblowing on this issue.

In other words, since there was a prosecution following Rafizi Ramli’s exposés of the NFC scandal, does it not justify his role in performing a public service as a whistleblower, and if so, should he not then be rewarded rather than punished for his actions?

Rafizi’s arrest brings back memories of my own case nearly twenty years ago when I was sent to prison for defending an underaged rape victim. Isn’t it ridiculous that none of the alleged rapists spent a single day in prison while the victim was detained and I was imprisoned for highlighting this injustice?

Therefore, DAP calls on the Attorney-General and the federal government to withdraw the charges against Rafizi in order to restore public confidence in BN’s commitment to protect whistleblowers and expose corruption as well as to promote public integrity and leadership.

*Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary General & MP for Bagan