What these two crimes have in common is that they both involve stealing, which is morally and legally wrong. Both are punishable crimes.
The two situations have caught the eye of the public and sparked concerns among people in and outside the country, albeit for varying reasons.
But the similarities end here.
For one thing, the gravity of stealing bananas is markedly different from pilfering stacks of money from public coffers.
In the case of the theft of bananas from a farm, the Batu Pahat Magistrates’ Court sentenced a 35-year-old lorry attendant, a father of three, to three months’ imprisonment.
- Sign up for Aliran's free daily email updates or weekly newsletters or both
- Make a one-off donation to Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara, CIMB a/c 8004240948
- Make a pledge or schedule an auto donation to Aliran every month or every quarter
- Become an Aliran member
His case followed another court case regarding a purported royal addendum that might allow convict Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under ‘house arrest’.
The former prime minister had been found guilty after a lengthy trial of embezzling RM42m that was transferred from SRC International, a former 1MDB unit, into his private account.
Thrust against this backdrop, the banana theft case has caught public attention as it contrasts starkly with Najib’s case in many important ways.
Represented by a lawyer from the National Legal Aid Foundation, the lorry attendant pleaded guilty to the charge. Garbed in an orange outfit that detainees in such cases are expected to wear, the accused faced the full force of the law despite the gravity of his crime being obviously much lighter than Najib’s.
There was no reported attempt to seek leniency through a shorter prison term, let alone pardon, even though the widower was his family’s sole breadwinner.
As for Najib’s case, the Pardons Board in February 2024 awarded a 50% reduction of his prison sentence from 12 years to six, while his fine was slashed from RM210m to a mere RM50m.
Najib is now exploring the possibility of getting the remainder of his prison term reduced to a ‘house arrest’ while his supporters are hoping for a full royal pardon.
The turn of events in Najib’s case unsurprisingly prompted some levity in the remarks made by some members of the public.
A typical response was the cynical ‘advice’ given to the banana thief: he should have stolen tons of bananas in order to apply and be considered for a reduction in prison term, if not the granting of house arrest.
In the noisy debate that revolved around this issue, there was an underlying insistence of perceived double standards at play – something that concerns many who value justice and fair play.
What lesson can the children of the convicted lorry attendant draw from the entire episode? That crime still doesn’t pay? That justice is still blind?
More seriously, what values do we want to instil in the young, who would hopefully grow up to become productive and responsible in a supposedly God-fearing country?
What does it say about those clamouring for Najib’s early release in the face of the guilty sentence ruled by the nation’s top judges? The Court of Appeal had even described the SRC International case as a “national embarrassment”.
Is such a clamour a grim reflection of the almost religious pronouncement that priority should be accorded to Malay-Muslims for the country’s leadership positions, irrespective of their level of integrity?
Another question: are rules meant to be bent only by those who have the wherewithal?
Such questions should prick the conscience of the public, especially those whose vested interests overshadow the national interest and the rule of law.
For those caught up in the relentless pursuit of political power and economic gain, the plight of the lorry attendant who stole bananas obviously doesn’t figure highly.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
In Ketuanan … Malaysia it is a crime to steal bananas. But stealing billions of public funds you are responsible to care for is a heroic deed. That is the lesson the next generations of Ketuanan.
Well said! Bersih! Bersih! Let the Government of Malaysia take a stand—if our local courts have been exhausted, it’s time to escalate the case to the International Court of Justice. Justice must prevail, no matter the stage or the stakes.
Banana seller cannot afford the high cost lawyers to defend him to be financed by honestly earned on a day to day basis and understand the complicated and time consuming procedures while the other has access to high cost specialist legal minds who can use the legal procedures and interpretations to be free on comparative low amounts and continue to enjoy luxurious lifestyles and all to be financed by same funds which may have been suspected to be acquired by means on which the legal case may exist and can go on for years or even decades.
Above may not be limited to just one country but be an accepted culture worldwide with some rare exceptions.
Bless all
There are 2 sets of … practices here… 1 for the elites and the other for the ordinary layman … So something is definitely not rightly practiced in this country and need to be corrected.
… There would have been mitigating circumstances , a fine of say Rm 100 with a reprimand will have demonstrated reasonableness in decision making.