IT augurs well for accountability and responsibility that Penang police have apologised for not preventing the large gathering for Aidiladha prayers yesterday.

However, stern action must be taken against all concerned – not only for all those who gathered for this event but also include all those enforcement personnel responsible for policing the area.

For such a large gathering that spilled out onto the streets and the length of time that it would have taken to congregate, implies that the local patrolling personnel condoned the event. They must be identified and stern disciplinary action must follow.

The law does not provide for law offenders to be let off with an apology before justice takes its course. Personal inclinations of discretion of those entrusted to enforce the law must never be part of the consideration in not enforcing the law.

This is more so when we are in the midst of this most lethal and dangerous unseen adversary around us. Pandemic numbers are still raging and our number of deaths are quite alarming especially when you proportion it by ratio to our country’s population.

We need to be extremely firm at this juncture so as to not lose any more lives unnecessarily. Many countries who have made great progress lose its advantage in a blink of an eye by letting their guard down. We must not fall into this situation again!

Apologies are at most, mitigating factors for criminal offences, and its penalties, as provided in law. Police must be seen to be fair and firm dealing with all tiers of society including their own personnel.

In fact the enforcer of the law is normally punished more severely in trite law. This is in relation and context to the special powers entrusted to them as provided in the criminal procedure code. They must set and lead by exemplary example.

Police, who are still entrusted with policing themselves, must be seen to be swift in taking action against their own and it must be made transparent. Any delay or inaction will erode public trust and confidence in the police service.

More so, when there is extreme public fatigue in the ongoing movement restrictions that has affected the lives and livelihoods of everyone. Stress is becoming quite evident in regulations involving masking and social distancing.

Many members of the public have already been swiftly and heavily penalised for not complying, although apologising profusely when caught. Enforcement needs to be consistent.

Flimsy excuses bordering upon lies, given initially by those in position when caught at the outset of committing an offence, should later be part of prosecution’s submissions in enhancing penalties.

Those in positions of power and influence must be held higher in accountability and responsibility. It is only then we can make inroads in winning hearts and minds, which will get the public willingly onboard. – July 21, 2021.

* G. Selva reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.