The Ball Is In Police S Court

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PETALING JAYA: The government will leave it to the police to take action against politicians who are said to have violated the movement control order (MCO), says Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob
“No one is above the law. I have been made to understand that police reports have been lodged and we will leave it the police to take action, ” he said during his daily press conference in Putrajaya yesterday
He was asked to comment on photographs which had gone viral on social media of politicians who had allegedly failed to observe the MCO by going out to make visits
Pictures have gone viral of Deputy Health Minister I Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali and Perak exco member Razman Zakaria who were purportedly seen having a meal at a gathering in Lenggong, Perak
At press time, both politicians could not be contacted for comment
Perak CPO Comm Datuk Razarudin Husain said the police would record statements from the two politicians
He said initial investigations showed that the deputy minister was checking on Covid-19 preparations by ministry staff
“However, after checking on the preparations with the exco member, who is also the tahfiz owner, they visited the place, where food was already prepared, ” he added
Comm Razarudin said from the photographs seen, the participants were seated apart from each other
“However, investigations will be carried out on all those who attended the event, ” he said.In Kota Baru, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said as reported by Bernama that ministers and deputy ministers were not immune under the law if they deliberately flout the MCO
He said it was up to the authorities concerned to take appropriate action if it was true that there were gatherings which were deliberately held involving any minister or deputy minister
‘’Everybody is subject to the law including ministers. It is up to the authorities to take action if the MCO was deliberately flouted and they clearly defied the standard operation procedure
“However, it depends on cases. Ministers meet everyday on issues linked to Covid-19. After the meetings, some need further checks, including visits and surveys. For example, a minister’s visit involves a briefing on the views which must be sought, ’’ he told reporters.Social media users criticised the actions of the politicians
A Facebook user who went by the name of “Yunus Yunus” said that while there were no issue that the dignitaries were on duty, they should not have attended the luncheon as if it was a “kenduri” when the MCO was in force
Another user said that leaders should lead by example
“They were neither wearing masks nor observing social distancing. Are leaders immune from Covid-19 or will they get five-star treatment in the medical wards?” he added
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin criticised Dr Noor Azmi on Facebook, saying that he did not set a good example and that leaders from other countries had tendered their resignations after violating their own lockdown order
MCA vice-president Datuk Tan Teik Cheng said Dr Noor Azmi should have known better than to violate the MCO by attending a group luncheon
“It was his ministry which formulated and decided on the MCO do’s and don’ts as the frontliners in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic
“He should not only know the rules but practise it more strictly than others. Unfortunately, he has shown to be a bad role model, ” he said in a statement
Tan pointed out that two senior citizens who lived alone in Tampin were recently fined RM1,000 each for violating the MCO while waiting together for free food being distributed
He said law enforcement authorities should use their discretion before issuing any summons or making an arrest on those who violated the MCO
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that the government should show a good example to the people
“The rules made (for the MCO) were based on law and must be applied to all
“No one must think they are ‘more special’ and set aside the law. This is a bad example, ” he said. - Star

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