Play fair, MACC

The Malaysian Insight The Malaysian Insight Updated 7 years ago · Published on 26 Sep 2018 1:15PM · 13 Comments

Baling MP Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim at the magistrates' court in Putrajaya today where he is under investigation for corruption. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Kamal Ariffin, September 26, 2018.

NAJIB Razak was brought to court on three occasions in recent months and slapped with a total of 32 charges. 

He wore pin-striped suits and there were no handcuffs.

Today, Baling MP Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim was brought to court for a remand application. He was not being charged with anything yet.

And yet, he was forced to wear the orange lock-up garb and handcuffed. Treated like a common criminal.

Are we missing something here?

Granted, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission deputy commissioner Azam Baki, when asked in a radio interview recently why Najib was not forced to wear orange or handcuffed, he said: “It is up to the discretion of the investigating officer”.

So for all intents and purposes, the IO investigating Azeez’s case must have thought that the Baling MP and former Tabung Haji chairman was a flight risk.

That could be the only explanation why Azeez was treated like a criminal today, even before the first charge was slapped on him.

There was a huge outcry when Rafizi Ramli was arrested two years ago and escorted to his office in the orange garb. He was also bare-footed. 

Unfettered by handcuffs, former prime minister Najib Razak waves to the media as he arrives under escort at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on September 20, 2018. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, September 26, 2018.

Social media was aghast.

The same opposition lawmakers and supporters who contributed to that outcry then are now sitting in Putrajaya. 

The new Pakatan Harapan government is bound to be questioned on these unfair tactics about which they had screamed “bloody murder” previously.

PH and MACC must tread carefully.

They must not lose the goodwill they have earned from Malaysians so quickly by being unfair and selective in their actions.

PH must not forget why Malaysians kicked the previous administration out. And Malaysians have not forgotten how the anti-graft agency kept quiet all this time while the country was being plundered.

Play fair MACC and PH, or at least, be consistent.

Malaysians are watching you. – September 26, 2018.

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Comments

  • Playing fair means acting consistently. This is what they are doing here. We expect the same for Najib and Rosmah - orange LOKAP uniforms, and nothing less.

    Posted 7 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply

    • Yes... agreed.

      Posted 7 years ago by Azis Yusoff · Reply

  • I think the reason is simple. By right, every suspecting criminal should wear orange garb but MAAC is correct that somehow Najib is given the little privilege not to wear one as he was the x-PM and Areez is not. Trivial issue as all of them will be put to jail eventually.

    Posted 7 years ago by Jackal Way · Reply

    • Yes, trivial. On one hand u want them be thrown the book at on the other hand you want them to be treated with dignity and pride. Did they consider any dignity when absconding taxpayers money ?

      Posted 7 years ago by Ali Khan · Reply

  • The orange garb actually is in a way dehumanizing and should be resorted to only in cases of those who pose a definite security risk or the potential to stage an escape. The others should be spared this humiliation. What benefit is there for two cops to hold either side of a handcuffed suspect? It's so third world.

    Posted 7 years ago by Simple Sulaiman · Reply

    • Agreed with your stand

      Posted 7 years ago by Jackal Way · Reply

    • The measure of a mature society is when it treats everyone with courtesy & respects the inherent dignity & sacredness of life by default. Even the most audacious criminals are human at the core & given a chance to redeem themselves, will likely opt to do so.

      Posted 7 years ago by Antares Maitreya · Reply

  • Stop thinking in UMNO mentality- PH government has no say in what the independent law enforcers do.

    Posted 7 years ago by Malaysia New hope · Reply

  • NOWADAYS CRIMINAL STILL CAN LAUGH AND SMILE. NO SHAME AT ALL. DUMBNO

    Posted 7 years ago by CHEE Meng Ng · Reply

  • Agreed. I am sharing this...

    Posted 7 years ago by Jeff Khoo · Reply

  • I agree. There must be consistency in MACC's SOP.

    Posted 7 years ago by Ramakrishnan Thangavelu · Reply

  • Why the double standards? Najib n wife should NOT be treated separately.

    Posted 7 years ago by Ramakrishnan Thangavelu · Reply

  • Stop the double standards it should not be the responsibility of the IO there should be a standing order on SOP.

    Posted 7 years ago by Danial Abdullah · Reply