Excusing Khairuddin puts a stain on Putrajaya’s image, say analysts

 

The attorney-general’s chambers has cleared Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Khairuddin Aman Razali of breaching the Covid-19 SOP.

PETALING JAYA: Two political analysts have warned of the danger of the government’s image being tainted by the decision to dispense with legal action against a minister who breached mandatory quarantine rules.

Azizuddin Mohd Sani of Universiti Utara Malaysia and Jeniri Amir of the National Professors Council told FMT they believed members of the public were wise enough to see a double standard in punishing ordinary people for an offence and excusing a politician in power for the same offence.

They were commenting on a statement from the attorney-general’s chambers (AGC) clearing Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Khairuddin Aman Razali of breaching the Covid-19 SOP.

Khairuddin, a member of PAS, did not undergo a 14-day home quarantine upon returning from Turkey in July. The AGC said he had not been issued the form to undergo quarantine upon entering the country.

Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani.

Azizuddin said the decision would jeopardise not only the image of the governing coalition but also that of PAS.

“They talk of Islam and the teachings of Islam, but people may feel that PAS, now that it is in power, is no longer following the teachings of the Prophet,” he said.

He noted that Islamic guidelines on dealing with epidemics go back to the time of the Prophet, when people were told to follow quarantine procedures as well as abide by other restrictions if there was a contagion of disease.

Jeniri Amir.

Jeniri said members of the public would see the move as an instance of the government’s impulse to hold to double standards.

“They will think there is one rule for the elite and one for the commoners,” he said. “It does not augur well for the government.”

He said the government should be seen as consistent and just with its decisions.

He also said the government seemed unaware the public had become politically literate and would monitor its actions as well as those of political parties.

“If the government is seen as biased, people will lose respect for politicians and ministers,” he added. - FMT