Lawmakers mocking the law

It has been 63 years since Merdeka. A 63-year-old man should be a man full of wisdom and who acts like one too. We would think that at this ripe old age, the country's systems and people would behave like a wise 63-year-old man, but what we see is the shocking contrary.

We have lawmakers blatantly flouting the same laws they made, and this total disregard for the law is perceived with sheer shock and disbelief. If no legal action is taken against them, there can only be two conclusions - either the government has another set of laws, one that is unwritten and only applies to the lawmakers, or there is only one set of laws, but these lawmakers are above the law.

In fact, lawmakers who break the law should be slapped with a heavier fine or sentence by virtue of being a lawmaker. The standard operating procedure (SOP) for overseas returnees should apply to all. Hence, to avoid these returnees from spreading Covid-19, a quarantine period is mandatory.

Additionally, helmets for anyone riding on motorcycles are mandatory, regardless of distance travelled. We are already knocking hard on the digital door and these offenders are literally insulting the intelligence of the people by breaking the very laws they made and hoping that nobody will notice their offences.

A primary schoolboy is sufficiently knowledgeable and IT-savvy to know when a photo has, or hasn't been, doctored in Photoshop. We do not need to have cameras slung over our shoulders in order to take pictures. We do not need to rely on the services of the post office in order to send pictures.

Another glaring discrepancy is the unfair application of laws. Law offenders from the elite and so-called high society have been favoured with a lighter fine or sentence as compared to those from the general public.

Is there any discretionary clause in the SOP for the movement control order (MCO) or recovery MCO? Even if there is, who is empowered to determine this fine quantum if it is merely a summons?

The rakyat view these as scenes taken from the “Wild Wild West”, where might is right. It is high time for the government to clean up all this mess. This “free for all” state of affairs is the seat of much dissatisfaction, and if left unattended to, it will swell to a level beyond redemption. We, the rakyat, want the equal application of justice and this must be seen to be done. 

by : Yow Lop Siaw

-  Mkini

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The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.