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PETALING JAYA: Two political analysts warned of the danger of the government’s image being tarnished by the decision to dispense with legal action against a minister who breached mandatory quarantine rules.
Azizuddin Mohd Sani from the Universiti Utara Malaysia and Jeniri Amir from the National Council of Teachers told the FMT that they believed members of the public were wise enough to see double standards in punishing ordinary people for a crime and excusing a politician in power for the same crime.
They were commenting on a statement by the Attorney General’s Office (AGC) in which the Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Khairuddin Aman Razali, violated the Covid-19 SOP.
PAS member Khairuddin did not undergo a 14-day home quarantine upon returning from Turkey in July. The AGC said it had not been issued a form to self-quarantine upon entering the country.
Azizuddin said the decision would endanger not only the image of the ruling coalition but also that of the PAS.
“They talk about Islam and the teachings of Islam, but people may feel that the PAS, now that it is in power, no longer follows the teachings of the Prophet,” he said.
He noted that Islamic guidelines for dealing with epidemics date back to the time of the Prophet, when people were told to follow quarantine procedures and comply with other restrictions if there was a spread of disease.
Jeniri said members of the public would view the move as an example of the government’s push to maintain double standards.
“They will think there is one rule for the elite and another for the commoners,” he said. “It doesn’t bode well for the government.”
He said that the government must be seen as consistent and fair with its decisions.
He also said that the government seemed to be unaware that the public had become politically literate and would monitor their actions as well as those of the political parties.
“If the government is seen as biased, the people will lose respect for politicians and ministers,” he added.
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