The Malaysian Insight

NAJIB Razak was brought to court on three occasions in recent months and slapped with a total of 32 charges. 

He wore pin-striped suits and there were no handcuffs.

Today, Baling MP Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim was brought to court for a remand application. He was not being charged with anything yet.

And yet, he was forced to wear the orange lock-up garb and handcuffed. Treated like a common criminal.

Are we missing something here?

Granted, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission deputy commissioner Azam Baki, when asked in a radio interview recently why Najib was not forced to wear orange or handcuffed, he said: “It is up to the discretion of the investigating officer”.

So for all intents and purposes, the IO investigating Azeez’s case must have thought that the Baling MP and former Tabung Haji chairman was a flight risk.

That could be the only explanation why Azeez was treated like a criminal today, even before the first charge was slapped on him.

There was a huge outcry when Rafizi Ramli was arrested two years ago and escorted to his office in the orange garb. He was also bare-footed. 

Social media was aghast.

The same opposition lawmakers and supporters who contributed to that outcry then are now sitting in Putrajaya. 

The new Pakatan Harapan government is bound to be questioned on these unfair tactics about which they had screamed “bloody murder” previously.

PH and MACC must tread carefully.

They must not lose the goodwill they have earned from Malaysians so quickly by being unfair and selective in their actions.

PH must not forget why Malaysians kicked the previous administration out. And Malaysians have not forgotten how the anti-graft agency kept quiet all this time while the country was being plundered.

Play fair MACC and PH, or at least, be consistent.

Malaysians are watching you. – September 26, 2018.