Anwar S Crazy Era Can End With Strict Equal Enforcement Of Law

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 It started with unsubstantiated accusations - police officers who raided Najib Abdul Razak’s properties in 2018 for evidence of corruption helped themselves to his grandchildren’s chocolates.
This was followed by a statement from his lawyer claiming that police investigators had posted a “series of leaks” on social media detailing the police investigation in real time.
After Najib was charged, they demonised then-attorney-general Tommy Thomas, wrongly claiming he could not speak the national language.
When these failed, it was time to attack the judge - Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, who handled the SRC International case. Various authorities, including the MACC, were unleashed to find muck on him.
He was exonerated, and the Federal Court ruled that the probe against Nazlan did not involve elements of public interest.
Then, it was the time to turn on the screws on Thomas. In a statement, now suspended Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan penned an editorial claiming the former was a “disgrace to the AG institution”.
Just before the 15th general election, the prime minister of the day, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, ordered the declassification of a report detailing Putrajaya’s investigation into the former attorney-general’s book so it could be used as political “bullets” to attack Pakatan Harapan.
Ismail Sabri YaakobAt an election rally in Bagan Datuk, he declared: “I have given you bullets. In the Thomas case, we exposed (the report) by the special task force. I have given lots of bullets here.”
Just shoot
Over the past months, these words of entitlement (and much more serious ones), which in Malaysian politics translate as acts of bravado, have continued to be heard - albeit on a higher pitch.
There had been no necessity to verify its accuracy or truthfulness, and in colloquial language, just “tembak” (shoot).
The makers, having enjoyed immunity, have upped the ante so much that they now have photographs of people posing with samurai swords to reinforce the message and instil fear.
Except for a couple in the doghouse, many are now part of the Madani government and continue to take potshots and make embarrassing statements, which does not reflect the government of the day. This includes members of the cabinet.
Former attorney-general Tommy ThomasSo, when Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he was astonished that his disclosure of the travels was blasted, saying the reaction reflected a “crazy era” where wrongdoers are glorified. At the same time, clean and transparent initiatives are condemned.
“In this country, if we keep entertaining those who steal, plunder, and rob, they are glorified, but when we try to run programmes cleanly and properly, we are criticised.
“This is what’s called jaman edan or half-crazed,” he told a town hall session on Saturday during the second anniversary of the Madani government.
Runaway train
How and why did this come about?
For political expediency or “solidarity and stability”, as politicians call it, the Madani government never acted or acted selectively against such claims, some of which have breached various law provisions.
Reluctantly, I must agree that we are in that crazy era of putting up or even believing that there are semblances of truth in them.
We have allowed the politics of hatred and smear to simmer with those within stirring the pot. There are no indications they are abating.
We never attempted to nip the problem in the bud, fearing, maybe, loss of political support or fear of offending specific communities or groups.
It’s a recipe for disaster and mayhem, but no one wants to stop those empty vessels as if they were on a runaway train.
Zahid the choirmaster
Why is Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi allowed to lead the choir in singing “Justice for Najib” in unison? Isn’t that undermining the judiciary? Why is it being allowed to continue?
Have they developed such short memories that they are willing to ignore the multi-billion-ringgit hole we continually try to fill?
Ahmad Zahid HamidiThey have become brazen, even venturing into a forbidden area - touching on royalty - but while Joe Public is pulled up for even the smallest of breaches, politicians remain untouched when they make.
Some believe that the fallacy of only confrontation with hurtful words can galvanise support and remain in the forefront. They continue to think politeness and civility have no place in the dog-eat-dog world - even if they are dragged to the gutter.
Like Anwar, I believe the government can better implement reform over time, but I disagree that his Madani administration is still new.
How much more time does the government need?
Two years have been enough to show that you have the political will and determination to make the changes, but there are few signs of your intentions.
For a start, how about ensuring that the laws are applied and enforced without fear or favour? Impart confidence in the people that the government means business and that no one will be treated unfairly or differently.
Just do not act against critics of the government but those who make what you have described as “crazy”. Spare no one - even if he heads a group that props up your government.
If you don’t start now, you will run out of time by the time your term ends in 2027, by then, it will be yet another crazy era. - Mkini
R NADESWARAN is a veteran journalist who writes on bread-and-butter issues. Comments: [email protected].
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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