Enforce the law without fear or favour

NEW Zealand’s health minister Dr David Clark broke lockdown rules when he drove his family 20km to the beach on the first weekend of his country’s national stay-at-home order. Although he apologised for showing poor judgment at a time when all New Zealanders were being urged to stay at home, he was quickly demoted.

Back in Malaysia, a lawmaker has admitted to violating the movement control order (MCO) by attending a lunch event. He has since issued an apology and the police have investigated the matter.

While the ordinary rakyat are immediately arrested for flouting the MCO, why do the police need to investigate the case of this lawmaker? Isn’t this lawmaker undermining the very law that he was a party to implementing?

If the government seriously wants to stop the spread of Covid-19, the MCO must be enforced strictly. In other words, public compliance is essential no matter what one’s status is.

Can our Prime Minister give his Cabinet members a pep talk on respecting the law, setting good examples and being role models?

The New Zealand example is a good case to emulate. Unless this is done, the (wrong) message is sent to lawmakers that they can get away when they break the rules. It also gives them the impression that their elevated status puts them above the law.

If no action is taken, the public will get the message that the lawmaker is allowed to do what the rest of us are not. All the public want is for every Malaysian to respect the law and that they pay the price if they break it.

I believe that lawmakers, top leaders and senior officials who break the law should be punished more severely than ordinary citizens. The reason is obvious!

POLA SINGH

Kuala Lumpur
-Star