By Mariam Mokhtar

Are the Malaysian taxpayers aware that their hard earned money and their taxes are used to fund the luxury lifestyle of the convicted criminal Najib Abdul Razak?

Each time the rakyat think that the felon, Najib, has gone too far in insulting the nation, we observe that he is capable of going one step further.

Last week, it was reported that police outriders escort Najib when he was on the road, and yesterday the Speaker of the Parliament allowed him to speak on Budget 2021 for a full 90 minutes.

What is going on here?

In November 2019, the police said that Najib would not be allowed any police motorcycle escorts, but one year later we were told by PN's special functions minister Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof that "there is no requirement for privileges such as bodyguards, police outriders and allowances to be withdrawn, despite the former premiers being convicted of criminal offenses".

This is ridiculous! What is stopping MPs from making a provision in the law to address the issue of a criminal conviction by a former premier?

So, is Najib a felon who was sentenced to 12 years in jail and fined RM210 million in July for his role in the multi-billion 1MDB scandal in which he stole the rakyat's money?

Or is he as innocent as a newborn baby?

People are innocent until proven guilty. Najib has been proven guilty!

If Najib wants to use police outriders and have bodyguards round the clock to protect him, why can't he use his own money to pay for this luxury?

It is alleged that Najib and some members of his family have not paid income tax on their illegal incomes.

When we owe the Inland Revenue Department a few hundred ringgits, the authorities will come down hard on us. Why is Najib allowed to escape scot-free?

Just in case anyone needs reminding, the High Court found Najib guilty of seven charges of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd.

Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali said the criminal acts committed in the SRC scandal had been proven beyond reasonable doubt and that Najib's defense team had failed to rebut the prosecution's case.

So why is the PN administration of Muhyiddin Yassin afraid to stop Najib from making a mockery of the law?

Najib gloats about his freedom. He may not say it out loud but he shows that he is a free man, with photos on social media showing he can swan around the countryside giving speeches, canvassing in various by-elections, inviting people to visit him at his home and flying to Sabah to take part in the Umno-Baru hustings in the recent state election.

Meanwhile, Malaysians can only vent their anger and frustrations online, or in letters to the editors of various newspapers when they complain that Najib mocks Malaysian justice.

Do other convicted criminals get special treatment like Najib?

Yesterday, Najib gave a lengthy speech in Parliament as if he had done nothing wrong. Did the Speaker, whose appointment was controversial, forget that Najib is a felon?

Malaysians cannot forget that the Speaker interfered with the judiciary last year by writing a letter demanding Najib's court case be concluded early, so that he could address the Parliament.

A businessman said, "Allowing a convicted felon to address Parliament has dragged down the reputation of this August House in which laws are made.

"Najib has cheapened, undermined, compromised and made irrelevant the sacred functions of an institution which represents the people.

"The Speaker should not have accorded Najib such a privilege. It cheapens our criminal justice policy, if the rule of law is applied unevenly and selectively."

Muhyiddin and the Speaker Azhar Harun may think that Najib can do no harm, but they are wrong.

Najib acts like a man who is innocent of all the crimes that have dominated the headlines of local and international newspapers for many years.

His trial had been a rollercoaster ride in which he used every trick in the book to delay the proceedings. He was often ill, his lawyer's sick leave, his late arrivals at court, falling asleep whist the trial was under way, even wandering off during his trial; but the court showed him leniency. Why? Would the court be as lenient with a normal Malaysian if he or she were to mock the court in the same way as Najib?

Najib's insult to the rule of law, Parliament and the judicial system may be the final nail in PN's coffin.

Najib is not just a common thief who stole the rakyat's money, he is also a liar and a desperate one who is still trying to convince his gullible supporters that he is innocent of all the charges. You may recall that some Malay women sold their jewelry to pay his bail.

When he was allowed to speak in Parliament, Najib gave a confusing message to the rakyat that they need not bother with rules or laws. Najib is proof that crime does pay. The young learn that it is alright to plunder, steal and lie.

Now that Najib has been convicted, why can't the authorities treat him as a convict and stop being lenient with him?

He continues to cause harm outside prison. He should be sent to jail whilst his appeal process goes through. There he will be able to reflect on his misdeeds.

When Najib sits in his mansion, is protected by police guards, and escorted by police outriders, it sends the wrong message to the rakyat. It breeds dissatisfaction with the authorities. Worse still, it promotes anarchy.

Source:

1. MalaysiaKini: Cops: Najib can't use outriders for personal or party purposes

2. MalaysiaKini: No provision to remove Najib's outriders, bodyguards despite conviction: minister

3. Free Malaysia Today: Maria walks out of Dewan Rakyat in protest against Najib debating budget

4. MalaysiaKini: Wanita Umno leader donates her jewelry for Tabung Najib

(Mariam Mokhtar is a Freelance Writer.)