Harris slams AG's Chambers: Credits Anwar and Daily Express
Published on: Friday, April 07, 2023
By: Larry Ralon
Harris, who was Deputy to Stephens in the newly-formed Parti Berjaya that toppled Usno in the April 1976 state election, took over as CM on the night of the crash, on the instructions of then PM Tun Hussein Onn.
Kota Kinabalu: Former Chief Minister Tan Sri Harris Salleh hopes the imminent publication of the Malaysian and expected Australian investigation reports into the tragic Nomad plane crash on June 6, 1976, will not be redacted, sanitised or censored in any way.He hopes it would satisfy all those who have repeatedly slandered and indirectly accused him of involvement in the accident, particularly around the annual memorial service every June 6.
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Harris also criticised the federal Attorney-General (AG) Chambers, which he said, “saw it appropriate to waste public funds and court time” by repeatedly appealing against court decisions, including the latest one ordering the Government to declassify the report.
He said in a statement that their strategy to prolong this matter on the excuse of “public interest and safety” but not considering the damage that this was causing his public image baffled him.
Harris said he was grateful to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his Unity Government as well as the Transport Ministry for agreeing to release of the final investigation reports on the crash familiarly known as the Double Six, next week.
He also credited the Daily Express, Sabah’s leading newspaper, for keeping the issue alive through the years. Particularly a 20-week investigative series it ran two years ago which he said was what actually prompted him, at the age of 93, to make the bold decision of taking the Federal Government – which he used to be part of at one time – to court.
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The tragedy killed 11 people including the newly-elected Chief Minister of 53 days, Tun Fuad Stephens and five other state ministers. He said Stephens was a beloved leader.
Harris, who was Deputy to Stephens in the newly-formed Parti Berjaya that toppled Usno in the April 1976 state election, took over as CM on the night of the crash, on the instructions of then PM Tun Hussein Onn.
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“I have suffered for over 46 years the accusations and slander by a number of Sabah leaders. These leaders have continued their slandering despite meagre statements by the Malaysian Government as to reasons for the crash and the production of a documentary video prepared by an Investigative Australian Reporter.
“This documentary presented to the Sabah High Court was aired in 1995 on Australian TV 7 under its programme ‘Four Corners’. The documentary video speaks volumes by having the title ‘Lies in the Sky’.
“Based on what had been released on the Nomad Crash, it is clear the aircraft was never suitable nor fit to fly due to its faulty design. It was reported that the Nomad was involved in as many as 32 crashes throughout the world resulting in 76 fatalities,” he said.
Harris said: “I am also suing the Australian Government that claimed it cannot release their version of the investigation report as requested by the Malaysian Government. The Malaysian Government has subsequently denied this. It is hoped the Australian Government will release their report now that the Malaysian government has decided to declassify the Malaysian investigation report.
“It is beyond comprehension and unimaginable that a civilised and democratic Malaysian Government, by classifying the Investigation Report, had caused Sabahans to harbour unproven accusations and target their slanders personally at me.
“It is with much regret the Attorney-General (AG) Chambers saw it appropriate to waste public funds and court time by appealing every court decision. The previous appeal against the decision by Justice Wong Siong Tung was withdrawn after the AG filed another against the decision by Justice Datuk Christopher Chin on 8th March 2023.
“To add salt to injury, the AG Chambers on February 13, 2023, proposed a settlement, ‘in order to save time and cost’ for the release of the Australian investigation report only, and for me to withdraw the case.
“Their strategy had always been to prolong this matter for reasons unknown, it was never for public interest and safety.”
Harris, who served as CM from 1976 until 1985, said there is absolutely no valid reason legally, administratively or politically to withold the findings.
“One can only conclude that political masters and civil servants are incompetent in their responsibilities. Of course with Anwar and the Unity Government, the report will now be released,” he said, adding the behaviour and attitude of past Malaysian federal Governments on the matter could not be understood.
“I wish to acknowledge also the investigative work and continued coverage of this story by the Daily Express without whom we may not have reached this stage,” he said.
The Daily Express’ award winning team of journalists presents ‘Double Six: The Untold Stories’, a documentary on the plane crash in Sabah (East Malaysia) killing the newly-elected Chief Minister of Sabah Tun Mohd Fuad Stephens, four state ministers and six others on June 6th, 1976. After 46 years the findings of the crash also known to many as The Double Six Tragedy have not been disclosed. Note: This series unravels information not previously available to the public, but does not in any way attribute blame for the crash on any party.
Harris hopes those Sabah leaders who have accused him of involvement will accept whatever findings are in the investigation report surrounding the Nomad plane crash at Sembulan, Kota Kinabalu and stop harbouring and propagating their unproven conspiracies.
The investigative series which uncovered many new details and interesting information surrounding the tragedy won the Malaysian Investigative Journalism award for Chief Editor James Sarda.
A separate in-depth documentary produced by Dexter Yeh entitled “Double Six: The Untold Stories” has been garnering almost 20,000 hits on YouTube.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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