COMMENT To put the Princess of Reformasi behind bars is synonymous to telling the world that even Au Sang Su Kyii is ‘still in prison’ in beautiful and progressive Malaysia.

Khalid Abu Bakar, as the inspector-general of police, has to take full responsibility for what happened two days ago, which has again put the country in bad light.

News of Nurul Izzah Anwar’s detention has flashed across the world . Where do we now hide our face as a nation? It is learnt that the Kita Lawan rally was not only held in Kuala Lumpur, but in a number of other major cities around the world where there are big groups of Malaysians.

As it is, the country’s reputation is already at its lowest, based on various rankings sponsored by international groups, but what has given it the worst blow is the jailing of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, with the entire Sodomy II case being widely perceived as a form of political persecution.

International bodies and world powers have collectively expressed their disappointment with the government of Malaysia, with the latest being the official statement from the White House after the online petition hit its 100,000 signatures. Locally, many of us are also unhappy with what we see.

Although discreet with his statement, the White House stated: “The initial decision to prosecute Mr Anwar, the decision to appeal the not guilty verdict, and the overturning of that verdict raise a number of serious concerns about the rule of law and the fairness of the judicial system in Malaysia.

“These concerns are compounded by the government's intent to expand its sedition law, which Prime Minister Najib (Abdul Razak) had pledged to repeal, to prosecute critics of the government.”

If not for the strong political will, which is sadly lacking in a number of other key projects and major scandals that should deserve more attention, the Sodomy II case would not have gone beyond the High Court, which had initially acquitted Anwar in 2009.

Total disrespect for Parliament

Sadly, now, Anwar’s own daughter and Lembah Pantai MP, who read out the opposition leader’s speech in his absence, was remanded for one night after she willingly cooperated with the police.

Khalid ( left ) should realise that by remanding the mother of two, when Nurul Izzah was in fact cooperating with the police, this will only further attract criticisms from all corners.

Nurul Izzah’s statement could have been taken within three hours, on the same day when she reported herself at the Dang Wangi police station, and there is no need to put her behind bars, a point clearly supported by the magistrate who saw no grounds for extending Izzah’s detention for the next three days.

What came to me as a shocker is that the police did not even have a copy of Nurul Izzah’s speech in parliament, until they visited her home yesterday morning to allow her to freshen up before she was taken to the magistrate!

On what basis then did the police decide that the speech was seditious in nature? To many of us, this appears to be more like a case of ‘remand first, talk later’.

The remand of Nurul Izzah is, in my opinion, nothing but a sheer abuse of the rule of law, as there is definitely parliamentary immunity that members of parliaments enjoy.

If the IGP himself cannot respect the August House, the only solution would be for him to immediately bow out gracefully from his current post or be sacked immediately.

If nothing is being done, and the story goes on with one episode after another, I have to say that these can only be signs of a collapsing regime that no longer cares for or respects the Parliament and the people of Malaysia. They have no business to be in power.

Public confidence eroded

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has the moral obligation to stop all the insanity that we are seeing in this country.

Failure to do so will only translate into a bigger loss of votes for the ruling party in the next general election (GE).

There is no doubt about it that the more mistakes done by Najib or any of his cabinet members, and government agencies under their control, will only cost the Barisan Nasional more votes.

We have already seen a sharp decline in the people’s support for BN from former prime minister Abdullah Badawi’s 2004 GE, and both 2008 and 2013 GE. The last GE was the worst performance by BN, with only 47 percent popularity votes and being denied the two-thirds majority.

Therefore, golf and RM1 chicken aside, it is about time for the prime minister to wake up as what is happening in the country now will only bring a quicker demise to the ruling party!

Anwar’s jailing may be the tipping point judging from the rise of young activism, but it is also not healthy for a nation that is groaning to see the establishment of a two-party democracy.

BN should continue to preserve its dignity as a responsible coalition that can still work its way back to Putrajaya, should the need arises in the future, instead of shooting itself in the foot.

STEPHEN NG is an ordinary citizen with an avid interest in following political developments in the country since 2008.