COMMENT | #AntaraDuaDarjat in the letter of law

COMMENT | Last year, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Khairuddin Aman Razali courted controversy when it was revealed that he did not undergo quarantine when he returned from Turkey in July.

The rakyat perceived that there seem to be two different treatments between ordinary citizens and members of the cabinet. They see as if there two different classes and the law was executed in a way that treated members of these classes differently.

Malaysians made comparisons with the numerous cases of individuals being arrested and brought to court for flouting the rule. This included the ‘pink wristband lady’ and the eatery owner who purportedly caused the Sivagangga cluster. It would seem that the minister was let off with a mere slap on his wrist.

People perceived this to be a case of ‘antara dua darjat’, different levels of treatment by the law for VIPs and normal citizens...