Sabah leaders implicated in an alleged mining corruption scandal are still free as a bird.
Lawyer and activist Latheefa Koya has said there is little reason to celebrate former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s imprisonment over the 1MDB scandal, citing what she described as blatant double standards in Malaysia’s justice system.
In a statement, the former MACC chief argued that while Najib has been jailed, other politicians aligned with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim remain untouched despite serious allegations. “Criminal justice must be evenly handed out, and the law must be equally applied. People know this isn’t happening,” she said.
Latheefa pointed to Sabah leaders implicated in an alleged mining corruption scandal, where several figures were caught on video discussing bribes. “Najib goes to jail – but those high-up in the Sabah government, political allies of the Madani government, caught on video taking bribes – are still free as a bird,” she remarked.
She also criticised the decision to drop Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s case. Zahid, a key ally of Anwar, was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) in 2023 over 47 charges of criminal breach of trust, corruption, and money laundering involving Yayasan Akalbudi funds. “And Zahid, chief ally of PMX – without whose support the Madani government will fall – his corruption case was dropped – just like that,” she said.
Latheefa further highlighted the case of a former aide to Anwar, believed to be Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak, whose name was “very quickly and publicly” cleared by MACC. “How kind of them to move so rapidly to clear his name. In contrast, some others are pursued relentlessly by MACC. Maybe they are guilty, maybe not. But the double standards are blatant,” she added.
Concluding her statement, Latheefa said Najib’s conviction does not signal genuine reform. “So, I am not celebrating. Because an ex-PM may be convicted, but we still do not have a fair, impartial, transparent criminal justice system that can inspire confidence among the people here and globally. Will we ever?”