YOURSAY | ‘You can now understand why the public have doubts about our institutions.’

Khairuddin cleared, AGC classifies case as 'NFA'

Apanakdikato: So, it took an incredible three months for the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) and the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) to investigate a seemingly simple problem caused by the PAS minister (Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Khairuddin Aman Razali) being "not given a form" upon arrival from Turkey.

After all, what is it to the AGC to drop this case after dropping a massive 46 charges against another shady politician? I think this outcome has been expected, as the slim two-seat majority of the current PM will be further jeopardised if Khairuddin is indicted.

Now we can understand why PAS politicians are fearlessly pushing for the Islamic hudud laws to be implemented. It is because they know that they are immune to the proposed hudud laws, no matter how corrupt and guilty they are, as there will be double standards in the enforcement, just as what we are witnessing now.

But at the end of the day, they cannot escape God's perfect justice.

BusinessFirst: You can understand why the public have doubts about our institutions.

A sex video in a hotel in Sabah where everyone can see who is involved - NFA (no further action) because the video is not clear enough.

Now this case is also NFA because apparently no form was given to the "hero" minister. I understand that there are supposedly no double standards, so either there are double standards in terms of the how we prosecute or there are double standards in whether some must comply and others do not need to.

Should we therefore refund the compound as well? Payment of the compound I believe is an admission of guilt yet according to the AGC there is no offence. So what was the compound for? Also, when was the compound even issued? Are there double standards too even in how compounds are issued?

Finally, you can understand why Najib Abdul Razak and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi supporters are angry. If you are on the right track, "poof" your cases disappear. In fact, you even get a state assembly seat without even contesting.

You can say the "bible" is distorted. You can buy expensive cars for "official use". You can get government-linked company (GLC) and ministerial positions like special envoy posts to earn double salary. You can eat RM6,000 lunches. In fact, you have immunity to do what you can get away with.

By the way, no politicking please. Covid-19 crisis is upon us. The conditional movement control order (CMCO) is in force hence it is inappropriate to hold face-to-face meetings, except for those with higher standards of compliance. Maybe even double or triple yours and mine apparently.

FellowMalaysian: The fact is Khairuddin has committed an offence in Malaysian laws and whether he was issued with a declaration form to fill did not relieve him of the penalty for flouting regulations.

He has admitted committing an offence and has indeed been fined RM1,000 for his oversight. So all points to the fact that Khairuddin has committed a definable wrong and rightful punishment should be handed against him.

Vijay47: As is typical whenever an official decision does not satisfy the public’s lust for blood, the police expect vociferous protests now that the Khairuddin alleged Covid-19 offence has been rightly classified as NFA.

The police do not suffer any duty to explain our actions since we have been duly established under the Constitution to serve the nation. We are, after all, Polis DiRaja.

Nevertheless, we will echo similar generosity as recently displayed by Parliament’s speaker and his deputy, and explain the facts and grounds that inspired us to reach our conclusion.

The very fact that Khairuddin’s perceived Covid offence took close to three months where others have been arrested and prosecuted overnight merely reflects the meticulous precautions we had to take lest we be accused of preferential treatment towards members of parliament who could decide the very legitimacy of the government.

To assuage public fears and to remove their abysmal ignorance, let me address the more pressing elements in Khairuddin’s case:

1. Much has been made of his visit to Turkey during a savage Covid season and that he was accompanied by both his family and government servants. Questions were asked whether and why he was granted approval to leave, to return unmolested by procedures, and the costs incurred.

Having had the benefit of examining the details, it was decided that such facts fell outside the scope of any Covid offence and in any case, would not be understood by an unlearned public.

It must be added in passing that following analysis by Industrial Light and Magic, it was irrefutably confirmed that airport and Hagia Sophia video clips were indeed of the minister and his large entourage despite the blurry images available.

2. The visit to Turkey was examined thoroughly from all aspects even though Turkey is a friendly nation with whom Malaysia shares a common heritage and vision.

However, this approach was found to be unnecessary and irrelevant; suffice to say, the visit earned Malaysia foreign direct investment (FDI) of RM82 billion, a sum not usually achievable by a single mortal man. It is especially here that Khairuddin earned his colours and his wings, success truly worthy of universal admiration.

3. There were also aspersions cast regarding the date the minister paid his compound sum, Aug 7, and that even subsequently, the case was referred to as “receiving attention, under continued investigation”.

Enquiries have shown that these discrepancies were minor administrative details which do not detract from the principal issues, errors truly unworthy of universal admiration.

4. Much has been made of the frequent back-and-forth transfers between police and the Attorney-General Chambers (AGC), clear evidence of the care we took to ensure that the guilty do not go unpunished nor the innocent made to suffer.

Just for the record, the AG reached his decision on his own, he did not have to rely on statutory declarations from his predecessors.

5. It might seem trite that the entire case hinges on a piece of paper, the Form 14B which was not to be as it was never issued to him. Countless records were examined - how could Khairuddin be faulted if there was no smoking-gun compulsion to comply? The sins of others cannot be visited upon him.

We are glad that the Khairuddin case has finally been brought to closure, unwelcome as the conclusion may be to those who still demand their pound of flesh from a person cleared whichever angle you look at his case.

He has paid his fine for what he did, and he had even gone to the extent of sacrificing four months of hard-earned money for the benefit of society. And yet there are those baying for his blood.

Odysseus: Next time, any drug mule will say I went to the toilet and didn't hear about the warnings about drugs. I also didn't notice all the signboards at the airport. I am ignorant of the drug law in this country.

Can the AG, who was a former judge, accept this defence?

YOURSAY | Khairuddin gets off - why are we not surprised

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