You know the country has a problem when…

 

From Adnan D

You know you have a problem when there is one law but different enforcement for different people. We cannot, under any circumstances, have that.

If the police arrest you and you are required to wear a certain uniform in a holding cell or prison, you must wear them. If that’s their SOP, so be it. Everyone arrested must be treated equally. If we go through a red traffic light, it’s an offence and we will get a ticket.

You have failed when you have different ways of treating people when it comes to enforcement, and in applying the law and in sentencing. You know that it’s a system which is being abused.

You cannot have government agencies being selective in investigation and prosecution. That is against the rule of law in any democratic country.

You create a privileged class of people who think they can get away with anything. If you cannot prevent that, for fear of being transferred or losing your job, then don’t have all the SOPs. It’s wrong to handcuff someone who steals eggs but not another who steals a billion ringgit. The easy solution is don’t handcuff either of them.

The biggest problem is when you arrest and harass whistleblowers, or complainants. That creates fear among the people: many see the crime but may not report them for fear of repercussions. That will lead to the collapse of a nation.

No country can progress if everyone just turns a blind eye or has their head in the sand when something is wrong.

You know the judicial system is doomed when sentencing does not make any sense: when you get a fine for stealing US$10 million but a one-year term in prison when you steal some milk to feed your hungry baby; or sentences that profit the criminals as when you steal or gain a pecuniary advantage of RM1 million, but the fine is RM500,000, leaving you a clean profit of RM500,000.

Then you know there are some members of the judiciary that do not understand jurisprudence.

Most people will forget about all this with the excuse they are not affected and it doesn’t concern them. Wrong. It may not do so today but it will affect the generations to come and they will think, why did you not do anything to correct the system when you could have? Because of your inaction, the future is totally screwed.

When taxpayers pay wages for the corrupt and power abuses, how do you think people will think? When the young and talented have no opportunity to serve a nation, nor given a chance to make changes, you know you have no future.

Make things right before it’s too late. We are already at the edge of the cliff. - FMT

Adnan D is an FMT reader.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.