JULY 31 — My friends in academia and I were impressed by the PM’s lament that perception was replacing truth. Yes indeed perception – how people view reality – should not replace truth.
So we should disentangle truth from reality.
How? Let’s take an example. I go to a shop. I buy a packet of milk. I come home and find that the milk has exceeded its expiry date. I fume over this and conclude that this shop is bent on cheating others and will sell use-by-date products to profit regardless that the health of their consumers may be destroyed. And I spread this perception of mine based on my reality.
The truth? It was a delinquent employee filling shelves who ignored the shop’s strict policy of not placing any expired goods on the shelf. So the truth must out and salvage the unfair generalisation triggered by the one-off experience of the consumer. Until this ‘truth’ is made known the perception will prevail – and the shop has only itself to blame. The truth shown by proof of actual documents evidencing the assertions of honest conduct by the shop operator.
Fast forward to PM Najib and the 1MDB allegations. It is perfectly within the PM’s power to dispel any suggestion that moneys belonging to others were credited to his account. And that he did not utilise the money (or any part) for his own (including for his party’s) benefit. Not by mere declaration – but proof of the facts. As in normal court cases the ‘best evidence rule’ requires furnishing documentary evidence – that the monies did not enter his account. Not directly or by circuitous routes through tax havens, money-laundering sanctuaries and such like. It’s as simple as that.
Then – and only then – will truth banish the perception and any idle gossip.
* This is the personal opinion of the organisation and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.
