Najib's house arrest political horse trading

 

YOURSAY | ‘Anwar's half-baked fight against corruption is not fooling anyone.’

LFL: Anwar, govt must take full responsibility for Najib's pardon

Koel: As many commenters have pointed out, this was horse trading between two political parties in power to maintain cooperation.

They were not thinking at all about the nation's health or well-being.

Malaysia and its people have always been the means to an end for selfish politics and politicians.

The people's welfare has always been sacrificed for the welfare of the elites and the super rich and the powerful sitting at the top of the totem pole.

The unspoken understanding among all this arrogance is that the country just needs to maintain these folk for the country to survive.

This is why they do not care when people steal public money or con the masses out of their hard-earned contributions.

This is why an ex-prime minister grabbed over RM2 billion - as shown by the courts to have gone directly into his account - and yet is asked to pay back just RM50 million.

This is why, even when this grand theft impoverishes the country, weakens education, healthcare, and means to people's livelihoods, no one is outraged that common thieves are operating freely in the highest offices of this country.

When are people going to get this? Malaysians are on their own. If they want the country to move forward and progress.

If they want their families to have better futures; if they want this country to show some responsibility to education, healthcare, jobs, and opportunities, they need to stop believing the fairy tales spun by political opportunists and charlatans.

Nobody is coming to save you or take care of you, Malaysians. Break the wheel and the moulds of the old. Forge new paths and new alliances. Time to chart new directions in politics.

Exile: Lawyers for Liberty director Rania Aljunied is right to clarify the constitutional position, whatever one thinks of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s conditional house arrest.

The courts found him responsible for misappropriating RM42 million, while the arrangement reportedly requires him to pay RM50 million.

More importantly, clemency is an executive act exercised through the constitutional Pardons Board process.

The Agong does not act in a political vacuum, and the government of the day cannot enjoy the benefit of a controversial decision while shifting all responsibility onto the palace.

This is how constitutional government must work: authority and accountability belong together.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his government must therefore explain and defend the decision openly.

That clarity protects both democratic accountability and the constitutional monarchy. LFL’s reminder is valuable for the greater good.

Aegis: Is LFL really so naive as to think that Anwar and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh would advise the Agong to grant Najib house arrest? Especially at this time?

The attorney-general, Yeoh and three other appointed members are on the Pardons Board, headed by the Agong.

The members can advise; that is as much as they can do. Do they have the power to object to or overrule the Agong’s?

LFL should direct the question to the Pardons Board.

Quigonbond: The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) executive director Wathshlah G Naidu makes sense.

LFL is just being nonsensical. How to revise a decision already made? Will it be in defiance of the Agong?

We should expect this by now. The prime minister is trying to keep the peace in a fragile coalition.

Besides, purely on compassionate grounds such as Najib’s age and his position as an ex-prime minister. If the government pushes for a completely eye-for-an-eye approach, they will be seen as lacking empathy.

Best to sort out the conditions for his house arrest. There would only be a travesty if he could walk around free and talk to anyone at any time.

GP2025: What the above are saying is absolutely right, except for Umno information chief Azalina Othman Said’s points.

Apparently she needs to learn from them instead of insisting on her narrow interpretation.

Yes, this decision shows the failure of the government to insist on constitutional compliance.

Anwar must resign on account of it. If he doesn’t, the partners in his coalition must withdraw support for a prime minister who failed to uphold the principles enshrined in the constitution.

Mario T: Anwar's half-baked fight against corruption is not fooling anyone.

The 16th general election will decide if Pakatan Harapan deserves another five years in office, provided the coalition remains intact.

If Umno gains the upper hand, we are back to another period of unquestioned, very suspicious governance.

RedEagle1791: The country is “falling and failing“ day by day!

The foreign press is having a field day about this pardon issue, as it simply does not make sense.

How are investors going to react? The repercussions will be far-reaching.

Two sets of laws, one for the common man and another for the politicians.

One Malaysian: The government should let the public know what the guidelines for eligibility to get house arrest are so that all those who are in jail for corruption can apply for it.

The government can impose fines, no problem, because we are all willing to crowdfund! - Mkini