The treatment given to a Pakatan Harapan suspect who was arrested by the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) at his own home in Batang Kali is such a stark contrast, compared to the treatment given to an Umno politician who was caught in a posh night club in Kuala Lumpur.
Both were tested positive for illegal drugs in the preliminary urine test. While Bandar Tun Razak Umno chief Rizalman Mokhtar was not remanded, or under police detention for even one day, despite his initial urine being tested positive for drug (which the general hospital and the police subsequently cleared his name), we decry the fact that an opposition politician was, however, given a maximum remand of 14 days in jail after a preliminary urine test result yesterday.
We do not blame the police for the stark contrast in its treatments towards an Umno politician suspect and a Pakatan Harapan suspect; but then, if this is not injustice and double standards practised by the authorities, what is it?
It is natural that the public would be very unhappy with the different treatments given by the police and would most definitely want an explanation from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) with regards to the standard operating procedures (SOP) when dealing with any drug abuse suspect, politician or otherwise, who shows positive results in the initial urine test.
Do the police let the suspect go home or keep the suspect in lock-up under remand? By continuing to remain silent on these questions which are of public interest, the IGP appears to have many things to hide.
We tend to believe the police are just carrying the instructions from the “top”. I therefore urge the IGP who has taken his oath of office, to explain to the public whether anyone gave instruction to Rizalman’s early release?
And, if yes, who was it? Was it Home Minister, Zahid Hamidi or Umno president, Najib Abdul Razak himself.