YOURSAY | Deputy health minister, sorry is no cure

YOURSAY | ‘There should be no special treatment for breaking the law during the MCO.’

Deputy health minister apologises over meal during MCO with Perak exco, others

Cyclonus: It’s so easy for Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali, he can simply say sorry and move on, while all those who broke the law had to either go to jail, pay fine or do community service.

Being the deputy health minister and holding public office, he should lead by example and be held to a higher standard of duty and accountability.

Instead, he is laughing it off and making a mockery of those who are in charge of administering the laws.

The authorities must prove that they mean business by taking stern action against Noor Azmi, Perak state executive councillor Razman Zakaria and the rest involved.

Anonymous 770241447347646: The photos are enough evidence for stern action to be taken against Noor Azmi and his group for flouting the MCO.

How many other people were given an opportunity to come forward and record their statement like them?

Malaysians who defy the MCO were arrested, dragged to court and thrown into jail. The same should be done with them.

What Noor Azmi and the rest did was against the rules set by the very government they are working for.

The apology is actually admitting to the crime. Secondly, it is trying to win some sympathy or trying to do some damage control.

We will wait and see if the statement by Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob that nobody is above the law holds any weight.

Vijay47: That’s mighty nice of you, Noor Azmi, that you have made an apology. As Elton John sang and everyone knows, sorry is the hardest word to say.

Only a man of honour would do it. We, the public, would similarly be gracious and we do accept your apology. That is, of course, right after you resign from that cushy post of deputy minister and have been charged in court.

Many others have been taken to court for the very same offence of breaking the movement control order (MCO) rules and I am sure that you, being a man of honour and all that, wouldn’t want to be given any special treatment.

Don’t forget to mention that you “also appreciate police's commitment in carrying out their duties without looking at an individual's background, position or others”.

You can quote your apology in mitigation. I am sure the magistrate will be impressed.

Anonymous_1578627575182.61741578627189265: A 80-year-old poor man was promptly arrested and fined RM1,000 by the police just for waiting for free food in front of a restaurant in Negri Sembilan.

So, what makes Noor Azmi so special, besides saying the word ‘sorry’, that he can be treated differently from the rest?

It will be shameful if the law is not consistently applied to all, regardless of status and political affiliation.

Unspin: If Noor Azmi (and the other politicians who flouted the MCO rules) gets away with it, then the right thing to do is to grant an amnesty to everyone.

It should be granted especially to those who have been fined or those who are waiting to be thrown into prison as they cannot afford to pay the fines. Moreover, the government does not have to set up the silly idea of temporary prisons.

Let's face it. This Covid-19 crisis is unprecedented. Surely, the rules can be changed to accommodate "first-time" offenders.

Anonymous_2dfe64eb: Ordinary people are fined RM1,000. For people’s representatives, the fine should be heavier at RM2,000, for setting a bad example. For deputy ministers or higher, the fine should be RM3,000 or more.

As a leader of the people, Noor Azmi is supposed to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, not be part of the problem and help spread the virus.

Bluemountains: If an apology can set a law offender free, many will not hesitate to follow the precedent set by Noor Azmi, Razman and the rest.

Currently, there are many politicians on trial for various offences. They must also be set free if they were to apologise, lest the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government be accused of practising double standards.

Fair Play: Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is really caught in a bind by the foolish act of his deputy health minister. Consider the following:

Noor Azmi is from Bersatu. He has violated the MCO which had been gazetted. The penalty is a fine or a jail term or both. If Noor Azmi is charged, there is no doubt he would be found guilty and the penalty is a fine of RM1,000. He then has to resign for transparency reasons.

However, Muhyiddin would be under tremendous pressure from Umno and PAS for the cabinet post and the PM could not afford to weaken his grip at this point.

And so, the alternative would be for Noor Azmi not be charged in court at all cost. He then will make a public apology (again) - to test the reaction of the rakyat.

Now, Muhyiddin has to make his next move. Whichever way he decides, he still loses. Indeed, the Almighty works in mysterious ways.

RZee: These idiots actually pose for a picture to be taken for the whole world to see when the rest of the right-thinking and patriotic Malaysians are staying at home during the MCO.

Furthermore, don’t they know communal eating is banned when there is a pandemic? Noor Azmi and Razman, as government officials, should know better.

I hope the authorities take serious action against Noor Azmi, Razman and the rest involved as Malaysians are in a panic mode with this kind of brainless people gathering about.

Anonymous_1cfb3ab6: Better to put up a photo of a cup of warm water or a map of 500 countries instead of posting a picture of a group feasting in the open during the MCO.

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