“The law isn’t above anyone!” This is what Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri said when a reporter asked that if politicians themselves violated the SOPs of the Hari Raya visitation. If you’re wondering what is this in reference to, well its a photo of Selat Klang state assemblyman Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari celebrating the first day of Raya with 21 other people that went viral on the 27th May.
As we’re all well aware of, even though the government allowed visitations on the first day of Raya, the group has to be lesser than 20 people as an effort to maintain social distancing. So, how was it that the politician escaped?
A neighbour saw the picture and felt that it’s his responsibility as a Malaysian to report it.
The Datuk’s neighbour himself was the one who lodged a complaint against the assemblyman. Malaysia Dateline reported that the neighbour saw a statement by Selangor Chief Police, Datuk Nor Azam that they didn’t receive a complaint regarding the situation at the Datuk’s house. Feeling responsible as a Malaysian, the neighbour went to the police station and lodged a complaint against the Datuk.
“I didn’t think that the picture would go viral, there was only ONE extra person.”
Datuk Abdul Rashid told Harian Metro that he didn’t expect the photo to go this viral. Shah Alam police chief Assistant Commissioner Baharudin Mat Taib said that the Datuk and everyone else in the picture would be called in for questioning. The offence is punishable under Regulation 15(1) where an offender can be fined not more than RM1,000 or jailed less than six months or both
Well, no one should ever underestimate the power of the netizens. We hope this case will be investigated justly so that justice will be served without any biases. Even though that has happened before…..
