I was browsing my Facebook one day when I read one press reporter’s post complaining about an incident where her illegally parked car had been towed away by the (then-) Penang Island Municipal Council MPPP enforcement officers some time ago. Obviously this is not that newsworthy given the fact that incidents like this are common occurrences in any city. However, what caught my attention was how this incident was resolved.

According to the said reporter, one of the MPPP councillors paid the fine and redeemed the car for her. I am not sure whether or not this is true but, for the sake of this article, let us assume that this claim is true.

Now why would an MPPP councillor pay a fine to redeem a towed car for any person?

I vividly remember that several months ago the car of one of my students was towed away for being parked illegally along Dunlop Road in George Town, Penang. I immediately called up one MPPP councillor to ask for his help. He told me that there is nothing that can be done to redeem the car except by paying the stipulated fine at the MPPP enforcement office behind Penang Times Square.

When I reached the place with my student, the officer told us that we have to pay RM150 as the fine. My student appealed that she had no money at that moment and promised to pay the fine the next day if MPPP can first release her car. The said officer adamantly told her that unless the fine is paid, she cannot redeem her car.

My student then told the officer that she will come the next day with RM150. The officer said tomorrow the fine will be RM250, the additional RM100 being the payment for the parking space.

Although I have no objection with law enforcement, I think MPPP could have been more lenient towards certain car owners like students, pensioners or even disabled persons. Not everyone parks their vehicles illegally on purpose and not everyone carries hundreds of ringgit in his or her pocket to pay fines to MPPP on the spot.

Anyway, coming back to our main topic, why did the MPPP councillor pay the fine for the reporter? The councillor in my case certainly did not do the same!

Of course MPPP councillors have to be always on the ground serving the public but I strongly believe that it does not include settling fines imposed by MPPP for another person, especially if that other person is a press reporter. It might give the false impression that certain people are given privileges by MPPP councillors because of their positions.

When Roman general Julius Caesar’s wife Pompeia was criticised for an alleged opprobrious behaviour with a young patrician, Clodius, Caesar divorced his wife despite no crime being proven against them both. Caesar said, “My wife ought not even to be under suspicion”.

This story has popularised the saying that Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion. But I believe that not only Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion; Caesar himself, too, must be above suspicion.

Therefore, I urge the MPPP councillor who allegedly paid the fine on behalf of the reporter to reveal himself and explain why he did this favour, and more importantly he ought to disclose what consideration if any he has received in return of such a favour.

I also urge the state executive councilor in charge of local government, YB Chow Kon Yeow, to investigate this matter and clarify whether or not such action amounts to conduct unbecoming an MPPP councillor.  

SHAMSER SINGH THIND is a law lecturer.