Is upholding integrity and taking a stand against corruption now a crime in Malaysia?
Perhaps this is what many will be asking following disturbing developments in the country lately.
For context, last Tuesday (Nov 10), ex-PM Najib Razak was finally transferred to his Jalan Langgak Duta mansion. Escorted by a Prisons Department convoy, he safely arrived at his new “home prison”—welcomed by loyalists shouting, "Bossku!"
As was expected, on the very same day, Transport Minister Anthony Loke also resigned from the Cabinet as promised. It was simply to honour his party's stand against Najib’s home detention, given the latter's corruption conviction.
Then, things started to get messy.
Amid all the homecoming celebrations, a buoyant UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi caused a major stir by insinuating that questioning Najib’s conditional pardon may be considered derhaka (treason).
It seemed like a direct hit at Loke and DAP!
It was also as if UMNO was trying to turn the tables on its nemesis and rewrite the narrative on the house arrest issue.
Horror of horrors, even former UMNO Supreme Council member Khir Toyo joined in the attacks, calling for police reports to be lodged against Loke for stepping down after Najib had begun his home detention.
But isn’t he the very same former Selangor Menteri Besar who was jailed for 12 months for corruption back in 2015?
(Source: Screenshot of image and headline from Free Malaysia Today)
Now seriously, does having a different take on the subject qualify as treason?
In fact, didn't the UMNO-led state government in Negeri Sembilan themselves previously clash with the current ruler, Tuanku Muhriz, amid claims of treason?
So, what happens next?
No doubt, these are halcyon days for UMNO, who are now in a very upbeat mood—with victory in the upcoming Melaka state election virtually a foregone conclusion, according to many analysts.
It is a rejuvenated party that can do no wrong, with its “court cluster” stigma now seemingly forgotten by the electorate.
But what if the unthinkable happens and it is unable to repeat its “chest-thumping” exploits in Johor and Negeri Sembilan?
Whatever the case may be, UMNO, with its new partner PAS, has already started to openly celebrate Loke’s exit.
For them and their followers, the DAP leader’s scalp is a major coup!
Meanwhile, as Najib settles into the familiar surroundings of his own house while a competent and dedicated minister rides into the sunset, the irony is only too glaring.
Does this mean that in Malaysia, integrity gets you plenty of brickbats—even threats of a police report—while financial scandals get you loads of sympathy and special privileges?
To his credit, Loke proved that dignity and integrity still exist in public office—never mind that it took him a long time to act on his pledge. A common Madani malaise?
What many may wonder though is this: What exactly is the point of all the anti-corruption “grandstanding” by the government if wrongdoers are perceived to enjoy special treatment?
How on earth do we teach our children about morals, ethics, and justice if we don't portray a good example?
Imagine if they were to ask their Moral Education teacher: So if a politician is convicted of corruption, he may still be allowed to serve his jail sentence at home with his family, and even get to eat his mummy's home-cooked food?
More significantly, since a precedent has been set, wouldn't certain unscrupulous politicians be emboldened to plunder the nation's assets, knowing that they have a potential “escape clause” to fall back on?
Certainly, the courts can't be blamed, as the judiciary did its job with admirable courage and handed out the conviction without fear or favour. They remain a beacon of hope to this nation.
So, who do we blame, then?
Interestingly, after relinquishing his Cabinet post, Loke had challenged BN to quit the Unity Government, while blasting Zahid Hamidi for calling for early general elections.
But the thing is, when that mysterious royal addendum granting Najib house arrest first surfaced, why didn't the Madani government respectfully advise the King that there is no such explicit legal provision for that in this country?
Why “hush up” the matter and allow UMNO operatives to seize on it later?
Indeed, why hasn't Madani investigated those who may have wrongly advised His Majesty on the so-called supplementary order, which was issued outside the purview of the Pardons Board?
Surely, many will be asking now: If only Anwar had been firm from the very start and not allowed UMNO to take control, would matters have reached this stage?
So now, with the party seemingly riding high on Najib's house arrest factor to launch renewed attacks on the Unity Government, what exactly is stopping PMX from expelling it? Hasn't there been enough betrayal and backstabbing?
On the other hand, could the knives be out against DAP for a simpler reason: because behind the bravado, UMNO quietly fears the ground starting to shift away from it—fuelled by Loke's defiant stance and growing public unease over Najib's controversial "homecoming"?
Main information source: Malaysiakini, FMT and Malay Mail.
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