<![CDATA[Coronavirus: backlash as Malaysian politicians caught flouting Covid-19 lockdown]>
Malaysian politicians spotted flouting government restrictions on social gatherings and travel are facing a backlash from an angry public accusing them of double standards.
It emerged this week that nearly 16,000 Malaysians faced either fines or jail terms after being caught breaking lockdown rules aimed at halting the spread of the coronavirus, yet a string of politicians who have made similar transgressions appear to have escaped largely uncensured.
Last week, Malaysia's deputy health minister Noor Azmi Ghazali caused uproar on social media after posting a photograph on Facebook of him and another elected representative sharing a meal with about 30 students. Users immediately questioned why he was breaching the nation's movement control order, which was introduced on March 18 and prohibits gatherings and social visits. Noor Azmi then removed the picture and his fellow representative apologised.
The same week Deputy Rural Development Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Mohamad was spotted breaching social distancing rules by having an impromptu birthday party. He defended the gathering by saying a group of people had turned up at his house as a surprise and he "didn't want to chase them away".
Deputy Rural Development Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Mohamad, right, at his impromptu birthday party. Photo: Internet alt=Deputy Rural Development Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Mohamad, right, at his impromptu birthday party. Photo: Internet
Other politicians who have breached the lockdown rules include the chief minister of the state of Terengganu, who was required to give a statement to police after visiting a volunteer food distribution centre, and Economic Affairs Minister Mustapa Mohamed, who tweeted about returning to his constituency in another state to visit people, then deleted the tweet after being roundly criticised. Inter-state travel, unless for emergencies, is prohibited under the lockdown.
Such cases have raised the hackles of the public, contributing to perceptions that while ordinary people face harsh punishments " ranging from fines of 1,000 ringgit (US$228) to jail terms " their elected representatives are able to "get away with it" merely by issuing half-hearted apologies.
It emerged this week that 15,924 individuals had been caught disobeying the movement control order, with the police cracking down via hundreds of roadblocks as well as surprise inspections on premises.
At the same time the government has announced that 13 more temporary detention centres will be created to house those found guilty of breaching the lockdown.
Homeless people practise social distancing as they eat their lunch at a temporary shelter during Malaysia's coronavirus lockdown. Photo: AFP alt=Homeless people practise social distancing as they eat their lunch at a temporary shelter during Malaysia's coronavirus lockdown. Photo: AFP
Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob last week warned politicians not to expect special treatment, saying "no one will escape the law", while the country's top policeman Abdul Hamid Bador assured Malaysians that all cases would be investigated equally.
Even so, the perception that government politicians are benefiting from double standards remains, particularly after an opposition member of parliament was on Monday called in by the police for questioning after visiting a market in his constituency that had been locked down.
P. Prabakaran said he was "not sure" if he had technically been arrested, and that he had gotten into a spat with a deputy minister while at the premises.
Others who have been fined or reprimanded include two low-income senior citizens who were waiting for free food, and 26 men who attended the funeral of a friend " a 17-year-old boy who died in a road accident.
Other arrests include several joggers found exercising outdoors and 62 Burmese nationals who were celebrating Thingyan, a new year water festival.
Groups such as prison rights watchdog Edict (Eliminating Deaths And Abuse In Custody Together) and the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) have both questioned whether the law is being implemented fairly.
"The cases of offenders being fined and jailed now run into the thousands. Yet, no action has been taken against the ministers and deputy ministers," said Edict. "Since the punishment of handcuff, remand and imprison has been meted out to thousands, including the abject poor, why are ministers spared?"
Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. Photo: DPA alt=Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. Photo: DPA
Suhakam urged the authorities to adhere to safety procedures as well as respect human rights.
On April 14 Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who came to power on March 1, extended the movement control order to April 28 saying it was necessary to slow the rate of infections, which have ballooned from fewer than 100 in early March to more than 5,300 as of Sunday.
Muhyiddin and his current cabinet line-up came to power on the heels of a political coup that saw the shock resignation of the previous prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, the breakdown of former ruling coalition Pakatan Harapan after just 21 months of rule and the nation's king stepping in to choose a new prime minister.
These political moves and their timing " the coronavirus had already arrived in Malaysia when the political coup was launched " angered voters who protested that their landmark vote in 2018 to install the Pakatan Harapan after six decades of rule by Barisan Nasional had effectively been laid aside.
This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
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