Malaysiakini : Two men, and two lifestyles. The poor and the privileged.

Firstly, consider the speed at which justice was dispensed. With money, not only do you pay for the best legal counsel, you can also “slow down” time.

On April 22, the duda (widower), started his month-long jail term. He admitted stealing 10 cans of sardines, four bottles of mouthwash, and two bottles of Nescafe from a convenience store in Parit Raja.

He had already been charged the previous week, at the Batu Pahat Magistrate’s Court, under Section 380 of the Penal Code.

Jamaluddin’s case was dealt with exceptional speed, within a week, from the time he committed the crime on April 18, to his arrest, sentencing, and incarceration. It was a job well done.

On the same day, April 22, around 250km away at PKR’s 25th-anniversary convention in Shah Alam, Anwar said that the Pardons Board would decide where Najib would spend his sentence.

We appear to flip-flop from the Pardons Board to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, to Anwar and ignore the final words of the nine judges who sentenced Najib.

Allegations of wrongdoing with 1MDB, which had its beginnings as the Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA) had been swirling around since 2009.

For over a decade, Najib’s former cabinet buried their heads in the sand and denied that their boss had abused taxpayers’ funds. They gave the lies a legitimacy of sorts, with tales about an Arab prince.

Najib denied all charges against him. He thwarted many attempts to bring him to court. He tried his best to avoid the hearings by claiming ill health, but we persevered. After four years, the disgraced ex-PM was finally jailed.

Pure greed

Secondly, was the motivation for the crime.

The average cost of the items stolen by Jamaluddin was probably around RM250. He stole to feed his children, whereas Najib stole to maintain his wife and family’s luxurious lifestyle.

It is highly probable that Najib also set aside some funds to help influence voters and more importantly, the Umno Baru divisional heads to secure a win in any election. After all, cash is king.

With the economic downturn, exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, no one should be surprised if Jamaluddin had probably been made redundant.

Jamaluddin stole to survive. He needed to sustain his family. Without food, his family would starve.

However, Najib’s motivation was pure greed.

Thirdly, Jamaluddin appealed for a lighter sentence because he had children to support. The prosecution contended that an appropriate sentence be meted out to serve as a lesson to him. Also, the shop owner had sustained losses.

By all means, teach Jamaluddin a lesson, but when he is in jail, his children are either uncared for, have to be taken into welfare, or must be cared for by others. It increases the burden and worry on him and his children. Could he not be given a community sentence?

Although nine senior judges sentenced Najib, also to teach him a lesson and send the message that crime does not pay, it is incredulous that his friends in high places are eager to show him compassion by reducing his sentence.

Quick to forget

Malaysia is crippled by debt from decades of poor leadership, mishandling of the economy, and Najib’s theft. The world economic downturn and pandemic multiplied the rakyat’s suffering.

Malaysians mudah lupa (forget easily). How are we to learn from our mistakes, if we ignore the basic principles in life, and keep repeating our mistakes?

Why should Najib spend the rest of his sentence under house arrest? He would enjoy fine dining, wifi, the best entertainment, proper bathroom facilities with hot and cold running water, the company of friends and family, and luxuriate in air-conditioned comfort in his palatial mansion when he is not relaxing in his landscaped gardens and not a prison yard. This is no punishment.

If you recall, Najib lied, and his then-cabinet supported him and dismissed all the allegations of wrongdoing.

Clare Rewcastle-Brown helped expose 1MDB and evidence from the American Justice Department finally convinced the Malaysians in denial. They refused to believe that a man with Najib’s political pedigree could be a thief. They were wrong!

Rewcastle-Brown now faces separate charges in court. One wonders if the Madani administration has abandoned her in her hour of need. She helped bring them to power but is now hung out to dry. Shame on them.

Najib does not deserve an iota of sympathy, nor does he deserve house arrest.

He may have friends in high places and be related to the nobility, but they only attract our contempt by defending this common thief.

If only Anwar would realise that by standing firm, and not detracting from Najib’s original sentence, he may recover his somewhat tarnished reputation.