COMMENT | In mid-September 2016, the Kamiso household was rudely awakened by plainclothes policemen at 4.40am. Two men had jumped over the gates and banged on the door demanding the occupants to open it.

One person took journalist and owner Sidek upstairs to the bedroom and even insisted on going into the children’s room. One took his laptop and another took Sidek's photo in his bedroom.

He was arrested and driven to Johor Baru – supposedly where the police report was made. The police applied to remand him but thanks to activist Siti Kasim who arranged for a local lawyer to represent him, Sidek walked free.

What was his offence? Allegedly, he had insulted Islam by making remarks on the religious leader Harun Din who had passed on earlier. Does it constitute an offence?

The next day, the-then MP for Jelutong, Jeff Ooi felt the full wrath of an ill-informed former police chief Khalid Abu Bakar who ordered: "Surrender by noon or we come after you".

Jeff had tweeted "adios" to Harun and the police chief without bothering to check, apparently decided it was a derogatory term.

Elsewhere, then Bersih chief Maria Chin Abdullah (photo) was arrested and held in solitary confinement "to facilitate" investigations. What was her offence? Khalid said that the police found documents that proved to be an offence under Section 124(C) of the Penal Code for attempting to commit an activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy, and under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).

Why delve into the past? Comparisons have to be made because last week, the police were accused of “not being fair” and being on a “witch hunt” when they raided the home of former premier Najib Razak’s mother – Rahah Mohammad Noah – along Jalan Eaton in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysiakini quoted Najib’s lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah as saying: “Yes, very mean of them to scare the poor lady and they found nothing in her house!”

Regime notorious for harassment

Scare would have been the last thing on the minds of policemen under the current regime. Scare tactics were the practices and standard operating procedures (SOP) of the past.

Wasn’t it mean of the police to jump over the gate and wake up Sidek's entire family in the wee hours of the morning? After all, he did not steal anything nor was he suspected of concealing stolen property.

Najib’s daughter, Nooryana Najwa Najib, claimed that the police had no mercy for an elderly woman who is also the wife of the nation’s second prime minister.

In an Instagram post, she asked: "Should an 87-year-old woman be made to undergo such a bad experience? At this age, she often spends her time praying, especially at a time where her son is being subjected to various tests".

Well said, young lady. But where was your conscience when they arrested Sidek and took away Maria and locked her up in a windowless cell for 10 days? To date, no charges have been proffered against her or Sidek.

Nooryana conveniently forgot to acknowledge that under her father’s watch, scores of activists were arrested or harassed under the pretext of "attempting to overthrow a democratically elected government".

Even the media was not spared. At least two editors lost their jobs because Najib’s administration interfered with the collation and dissemination of information. There was no room for any form of dissent or difference of opinion

Did Nooryana’s dad and his supporters ever accord any respect or deference to 92-year-old Dr Mahathir Mohamed (Najib’s mum is 87) in the lead up to the May elections? They called him all sort of names, demonised him and even attempted to dispute his ethnicity.

And what offence did cartoonist Zunar (photo) commit? Why did the police go after him? He spent 10 years subject to endless arrests and raids, had nine books banned, was charged under six different laws – for using his skills to critique Najib and his wife, Rosmah Mansor.

I was in Penang two years ago, watching helplessly as the police seized his works at an exhibition without any valid reason. And why prevent him from travelling abroad?

1MDB link

I don’t want to get personal with Nooryana, but wasn’t it her apartment in Pavilion where police discovered evidence said to be connected to her father’s alleged crimes? The police have the right to conclude that more of the stolen billions may be hidden in the home of an innocent old lady. Perhaps, they were tipped off by the plumber or electrician who may have noticed any not-so-normal activities in the house.

Documents in the public domain show that millions belonging to 1MDB ended up with a foundation that bore Raha’s name. This alone should have sent up red flags. While the nation acknowledges the deeds of former premier Abdul Razak Hussein, it cannot be used as an implement for immunity when a crime has been committed,

Unfortunately today, his son stands accused of stealing billions of the people’s money, malfeasance in administration, selective prosecution and a host of other minor incongruities. Until he is declared innocent by the court, he, like all other citizens, is subjected to the same set of laws. No complaints, please – not even from the family.

R NADESWARAN is a veteran journalist who has been following the trials and tribulations of the wealthy and the high and mighty who have been brought down to earth with a thud. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.