JOHOR POLLS | Muda has questioned if former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak and BN will be given the same treatment after the youth-led party's Bukit Permai candidate Mohd Azrol Rahani was slapped with a Health Ministry enforcement notice summoning him for questioning.
Muda said the notice was issued after Azrol did a "fist bump" with a supporter outside the Bukit Permai nomination centre yesterday.
Its vice-president Zaidel Baharuddin said political elites appear to be treated differently compared to a youth-based party like Muda with regard to the standard operating procedures on Covid-19.
"Najib and BN from the generation of political elites feel they are above the law.
"Besides being an enforcement issue, this is also an issue of old politics," Zaidel told Malaysiakini.
If Azrol is found to have committed an offence, he faces an RM1,000 compound or more if the case is brought to court.
"An RM1,000 fine against Muda or an ordinary person is harsh, but for Najib or even BN (leaders), the amount is just peanuts for them.
"Just like how BN paid no heed to the pandemic by calling for this election, don't be surprised these incidents will reoccur and they will continue to break SOP," said Zaidel.
This morning, Najib accompanied BN's Perling candidate Nicole Tan Hiang Kee for her campaign in southern Johor where he gave fist bumps to several well-wishers.
Health Ministry Khairy Jamaluddin, who is on a working visit to central Johor today, said his ministry will review the video of Najib's visit. to decide its course of action.
He added that sometimes, people tend to blame leaders but there are situations where people suddenly crowd around them for photographs.
As such, Khairy, who visited the Layang-Layang state seat, said enforcers should exercise discretion.
'Fist bump not okay, hugs okay'
In the afternoon, Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman who is assisting the campaign of their Bukit Kepong candidate Afiqah Zulkifli in northern Johor had also complained about Azrol being summoned by the Health Ministry over the fist-bump incident.
"Yesterday in Bukit Permai, there was an issue about fist bumps.
"Fist bumps are not allowed but I said we can show videos of the BN launches, there were hugging pictures, but no fine was issued," Syed Saddiq told journalists.
Azrol's aide told Malaysiakini he is consulting lawyers on the matter and will call a press conference tomorrow.
According to the notice sighted by this news portal, Azrol is being summoned under Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Code, similar to the powers granted to the police to question witnesses.
Yesterday, Health authorities also slapped an RM1,000 fine against Sin Chew Daily journalist Wong Kian Yong.
Wong said he was given the compound under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease Act 1998 after approaching an election candidate for his details.
Khairy had since ordered the compound to be cancelled, stating that the journalists had not done anything wrong.
Campaigning for the Johor polls kicked off yesterday. Johoreans will go to the polls on March 12. - Mkini
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