The public has shown great sympathy and anger over the death of Aminulrasyid Amzah, a 14- year-old boy killed by police while driving without valid license. The incident happened on April 26.

Merely two days before the incident, there was the case of a 21-year-old college student who died during a raid by religious affairs officers and the police. He was believed to have been alone with his girlfriend in an apartment when the religious affairs authorities conducted a raid. He panicked and jumped down from the fifth floor and plunged to his death.

I have waited since then. More than 10 days have gone and no one, not even any politician from the opposition parties have stood up and talked about this incident. It seems to be just like another road accident or even something less significant.

I couldn't help but start guessing. Well, this young student might have ‘deserved’ to die because he was believed to have done something ‘illicit’. Therefore, he should not gain any sympathy or attention from the public and politicians.

The family of the deceased might be too ashamed to question the authorities for the same reason. Of course, nobody, neither the officers from Selangor Religious Affairs Department or the police department, shall be responsible for his death.

‘The case has been classified as sudden death.’ Case closed.

That's it? Really? What wrong had this young student done? Not to mention that no one could prove that he had done anything wrong. Just because he was ‘believed’ to have done something illicit by the definition of his religion, therefore the moral police have the right to launch a raid in whatever way they like?

Has anyone questioned about the right of such religious affairs enforcement officers who often have nothing better to do but peep into the private lives of others? Even if they are legally authorised to arrest anyone they suspect, what about the procedure and method of arrest?

We are often told these Ah Long-like officers like to barge into the hotel rooms and snap nude photos of the victims – for ‘evidence’, they say but often transferred to their hand phones for personal pleasure.

My other questions are:

1. Was the student a suspected drug dealer/criminal/terrorist? Otherwise why were the police also  involved in the raid? There are thousands of life-threatening criminals out there; have the police got nothing better to do than trying to break into people's bedrooms?

2. These so-called religious officers frequently carry out similar raids on civilian homes and hotels. I believe they will claim that they are doing their duty under the name of their religion. Yes, but there are plenty of politicians and policemen out there who have been receiving bribes and engaging in many serious immoral activities that are prohibited by their religion.

Have these religious affairs enforcement officers raided any of their houses? If not, is it because they have to bow down to the politicians and policemen and therefore the double standard?

3. There have been similar cases in Malaysia before. Human lives lost during such raids. Why is the public, regardless of whether Muslim or non-Muslim, so quiet about it?

I know. Anyone who raises these questions will be labeled with all kinds of labels like being ‘anti-Islam’, ‘traitor’ and so on. However, if we always remain silent even when innocent human lives are taken (or murdered?), very soon Malaysia will be no different from Sudan or Algeria.

Aminulrasyid's life was precious. So was this young student's.