Bersih Sabah reject appointment of Herman Luping

Bersih Sabah is standing firmly on their recent call to reject the appointment of Tan Sri Herman Luping as one of the commisioners for the recently announced Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI).

In issuing a response to Tan Sri Bernard Dompok’s recent statement which suggested that Bersih Sabah are just trying to discredit the RCI, the members of the group would like to stress that the need for commissioners of integrity is paramount.

“Is there actually a point having RCI with great terms of reference (TOR) when you have commissioners and a secretary who are tarnished and bias?” questioned spokesperson of Bersih Sabah, Andrew Ambrose.

He further added that “Tan Sri Herman Luping is no doubt, a person who has contributed much to the state of Sabah. However, it is necessary to remind the government that one of the basic principles of natural justice is nemo iudex in causa nua, which literally translates to mean, ‘no one should be a judge in their own cause’.”

Such is the case with Tan Sri Herman Luping, who, in his vast experience, was the State Attorney General during PBS administration for year 1985 - 1986. He was even, at one point in time, a Deputy Chief Minister as well during the Usno-led Alliance Government (1967 - 1976).

Being a commissioner on the RCI would mean that he would be involved in the investigation of legality of the issuance of IC or granting of citizenships, and also the standard operating procedures (SOP) within the time frame of which he was serving in a very high position within the government. In short, he will be investigating his own administration.

Bersih Sabah therefore would like to ask a very important question to all the Sabahan leaders who agreed with his appointment: Can or would Tan Sri Herman Luping be impartial and independent in carrying out his duties in the RCI?

“We ask them to do the honourable thing and reject the appointment and recuse themselves before we have to openly highlight the problems. Any judge in the courts will have to recuse himself in such a biased scenario. This is what we expect of the proposed commissioners.” according to Andrew.

However, considering his experience and involvement, Bersih Sabah welcomes any contribution and suggestions on solutions and recommendations that may be given by Tan Sri Herman Luping should he wish to cooperate as not one of the commissioners. The movement also suggests that the RCI should call upon Tan Sri Herman Luping to be a witness or deponent to tell his side of the story on the illegal immigrants and project IC.

The demand to remove Tan Sri Herman Luping is only the first of a series of revelations to be issued by Bersih Sabah in the next coming weeks.

Bersih Sabah will be issuing on Wednesday the next statement, this time on KY Mustafa, who was the state of secretary from 24th April 2000 until 2nd July 2007, and succeeded by Datuk Seri Panglima Sukarti Wakiman, who assumed office on 3rd July 2007.

-bersih kk