MP SPEAKS | 2020 verdict for PN’s performance: Double standards in enforcing laws
MP SPEAKS | The 2020 verdict for the performance of the unelected Perikatan Nasional government is the double standards in the enforcement of laws between the powerful ministers and the rakyat.
The PN government began their tenure by practising double standards in the infamous case of PAS Minister Khairuddin Aman Razali.
Khairuddin was given a sweetheart deal of an RM1,000 compound fine for violating the Covid-19 home quarantine for 14 days, after returning from a private trip in Turkey. In contrast, a 72-year-old lady was charged in court and fined RM8,000 and a day’s jail for also breaching quarantine and COVID-19 health protocols.
Up to now, the government cannot explain why a minister is not charged in court like the 72-year-old ordinary woman.
Such selective enforcement of the laws by the enforcement agencies has even led to ministers not being investigated or charged for corrupt practices and recommending their own children to be appointed as directors of government-linked companies, in comparison to action taken against ordinary civil servants...
MP SPEAKS | The 2020 verdict for the performance of the unelected Perikatan Nasional government is the double standards in the enforcement of laws between the powerful ministers and the rakyat.
The PN government began their tenure by practising double standards in the infamous case of PAS Minister Khairuddin Aman Razali.
Khairuddin was given a sweetheart deal of an RM1,000 compound fine for violating the Covid-19 home quarantine for 14 days, after returning from a private trip in Turkey. In contrast, a 72-year-old lady was charged in court and fined RM8,000 and a day’s jail for also breaching quarantine and COVID-19 health protocols.
Up to now, the government cannot explain why a minister is not charged in court like the 72-year-old ordinary woman.
Such selective enforcement of the laws by the enforcement agencies has even led to ministers not being investigated or charged for corrupt practices and recommending their own children to be appointed as directors of government-linked companies, in comparison to action taken against ordinary civil servants.
PN has ended 2020 with another case of double standards following the minor accident with a pothole in Banting, Selangor, involving Umno minister Khairy Jamaluddin. JKR promptly repaired the pothole and apologised to the minister. This has nothing to do with Khairy and we wish him early recovery from his minor injuries.
The issue is the double standards by JKR which apologised and acted immediately to repair the pothole when a minister is involved but does not give a damn at all when the injured party is an ordinary rakyat.
This has invited public anger at the heartlessness of JKR, particularly when they pledged to implement a zero-pothole policy in 2016 under then minister Fadillah Yusof.
Why is there no similar attitude when so many ordinary rakyat have died or suffered serious injuries as a result of JKR’s failure to repair potholes? Since Fadillah has returned again as Works Minister now, he has clearly failed to fulfil his duty and deliver on the zero-pothole pledge.
Fadillah’s failure to take responsibility for the double-standards by JKR is regrettable and only highlights that PN ministers are more interested in politicking to retain their positions and completely incapable of good delivery to the rakyat.
The rakyat has lost hope with a PN government that practices double-standards and willingly sacrifices public interest for political survival, where PN has a slim three-seat parliamentary majority.
LIM GUAN ENG is Bagan MP, former finance minister, and former Penang chief minister.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
