Last year, Prisons Department commissioner-general, Datuk Nordin Muhamad said Dato Seri Najib Abdul Razak will not receive any special treatment in jail and will be treated like any other prisoner.
This was repeated by Najib’s lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah who said allegations that Najib was afforded special privileges were baseless and unfounded, which he described as “total nonsense.”
However, two days ago, during the Umno general assembly, it was widely reported that Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi spent nearly two hours with Najib along with several members of the party’s supreme council.
I may not be a policeman or part of any legal or enforcement agency, but I am sure no normal prisoner would ever be given such a privilege.
In fact, it is often so disheartening to read about a single mother or father who has to spend time behind bars simply for stealing a loaf of bread or tin of Milo to feed his or her hungry children.
Where is justice in this country? A poor, downtrodden citizen is treated like a criminal who robbed the nation of millions, while a high-flying politician found guilty of corruption is given VIP treatment behind bars.
“I even bought him his favourite food” Zahid Hamidi was quoted as saying in several reports.
It won’t be surprising if Najib is served his favourite Macchiato and doughnuts every day for breakfast, while others get stale bread and water.
From what I know, a prisoner is only allowed visits up to a maximum of 45 minutes, and that too, under tight supervision by wardens and prison officers.
Zahid has put his foot in his mouth and there is no wriggling their way out of this – the relevant authorities must answer for this injustice, illegal, unfair practice.
Also, if this had happened when the DAP and PKR were on opposite sides of the fence, their leaders would have raised all hell, but this time around seems like the cat got their tongues.
What a total sham and disgrace to the nation’s democratic system. I once held leaders like Rafizi, Nurul Izzah and Anthony Loke in high regard, but sadly they are all now playing to the tunes of Umno and our hopes and dreams are getting darker and darker each day.
Dark clouds loom over our beautiful country and we, the voters need to wake up from our deep slumber and make things right again, for our sakes and for our children.
Puan Zubaidah Mohd Harun
Jalan Kelang Lama, Kuala Lumpur
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