Malaysia’s unequal justice

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Malaysia’s unequal justice

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12, 2025: Justice is simply and glaringly not equal in Malaysia.

There are two status of justice - one for the “untouchable” super rich and powerful, another for the poor who steals milk for their baby and gets jailed instantly.

Clearly, in the case of disgraced former Umno president and prime minister Najib “1MDB” Razak, he gets super special treatment. He is now serving his jail sentence in Kajang Prison and is facing 25 abuse of power and money-laundering charges involving RM2.27 billion in 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds.

1MDB is Malaysia's so-called Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF). SWFs are set up by governments for financial investments for the benefit of their countries and their people.

Yet, has anyone seen Najib clad in the infamous “orange suit”?

Najib is brought to court clad in full lounge suit and tie, and escorted like a VVIP without handcuffs.

Now, Umno, a part of the so-called Madani Unity Government (UG), is shamelessly working “overtime” to have Najib “freed” under house (in Najib’s case bungalow) arrest (also read as backdoor freedom, so that he gets to enjoy the millions, if not billions of Ringgit stolen from the rakyat dan negara (people and country).

Remember that come the next general election (GE16), which is due in 2027, and honest and peace-loving Malaysians must “politically bury” Umno and racial and religious bigoted politicians like Dr Akmal “Dr Ham/I Am Malay First” Saleh.

That is the only way to save multi-racial Malaysians and Malaysia from the deepening socio-political abyss.

 

And, on Aug 23, former backdoor prime minister Ismail “Turtle Egg” Sabri’s son was arrested after drugs, believed to be heroin, were found in his car that he was driving.

Today, 20 days after the drug seizure and arrest by police, there is still no follow-up development on the case?

How long does it take to investigate and charge the son? For the layman, they are brought to court within a week or two!

Equal justice and enforcement treatment?

 

No News Is Bad News reproduces below an opinion piece on justice in Malaysia posted on The Vibes:

Opinion

Justice must be equal, or it is nothing at all

Malaysia cannot afford this message. Not now, when we are struggling to rebuild trust in institutions, to show the world that we are a nation of fairness, integrity, and equal justice

Updated 38 minutes ago · Published on 12 Sep 2025 12:02PM

This is about whether we, as a nation, are prepared to live by the principle that the rule of law applies equally to all — rich or poor, powerful or powerless - September 12, 2025

By The Mouse that Roared

THE whispers and rumblings about transforming Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s prison sentence into house arrest should trouble every Malaysian who believes in the idea of justice. Let us be clear: this is not about politics, vengeance, or personal grudges.

This is about whether we, as a nation, are prepared to live by the principle that the rule of law applies equally to all — rich or poor, powerful or powerless.

Najib has already benefited from a degree of leniency that few ordinary Malaysians would ever dream of. His sentence, originally twelve years, was cut in half. His fine was slashed to a fraction of its original sum. And all this after he had exhausted every appeal, in three different courts, with every argument heard and dismissed. By every standard of due process, he has been declared guilty. The facts are not in dispute.

To now talk about house arrest is not only an insult to justice — it is an insult to the Malaysian people.

It would reinforce the corrosive idea that in this country, there are two systems of justice: one for the powerful elite, and one for the rest of us. If that is the Malaysia we are prepared to accept, then we should be honest enough to admit that we have abandoned the very foundations of democracy.

Let us remember: the current Prime Minister himself, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, was imprisoned by Najib’s administration under charges so absurd and so flimsy that they embarrassed any notion of a civilized judiciary.

Anwar served years behind bars not because the evidence was overwhelming, but because the machinery of power was used against him. And yet, Anwar is not vindictive.

He does not govern with a spirit of revenge. He has made it clear that he will not let personal bitterness cloud decisions about pardons or clemency. That is the measure of his character — a statesman who separates personal history from national duty.

But for Najib, the case is different.

This is not about political theatre or personal feuds. This is about one of the largest financial scandals the world has ever seen, a betrayal of trust that damaged Malaysia’s reputation across the globe and burdened generations to come.

To now dilute his punishment even further would send a chilling message: that if you are powerful enough, or connected enough, you can plunder the nation and still find comfort at home rather than accountability in prison.

Malaysia cannot afford that message. Not now, when we are struggling to rebuild trust in institutions, to show the world that we are a nation of fairness, integrity, and equal justice.

If we fail here, we tell the rakyat that justice is a commodity, negotiable and bendable to power. We tell the next generation of leaders and businesspeople that corruption is survivable, even profitable, so long as you play your cards right.

The Prime Minister does not seek revenge. But the Malaysian people seek fairness. And fairness is simple: justice must be equal, or it is nothing at all. - September 12, 2025