Outrage flares as minister gets off scot-free for breach of quarantine

Aliran is appalled by the Attorney General’s Chambers decision not to take further action against cabinet minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali for violating mandatory home quarantine after returning from Turkey in July.

Law-abiding folks are livid to learn that, after months of police investigations, no further action will be taken against the minister – all because of some technicality. Apparently, the required quarantine observation order (Form 14b) was not issued to him.

Letting the minister off scot-free is tantamount to treating the public like fools. Many ordinary Malaysians caught violating measures to curb the pandemic have been hastily fined or jailed. No lengthy investigations for them. This is a clear case of double standards.

What does this say about the government and the party Khairuddin represents? What does this say about how they are functioning and what rules they choose to follow (or not). What else can we expect from them?

We expect ministers and other leaders to be subjected to an even higher standard of accountability than the lay person. The responsible thing for the authorities to do would be to subject the offending minister to the full extent of the law.

Otherwise, it will not engender confidence among the people that justice is being served – and seen to be served.

Aliran calls on ministers who flouted pandemic control measures to do the honourable thing and resign from the cabinet.

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.

AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama

1. Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
2. Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
3. Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
4. Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
5. Lawan rasuah dan kronisme

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