Where is the Home Ministry’s quick response team to the “Merpati” post or are the allegations in the “Merpati” post true?
Where is the Home Ministry’s quick response team to the “Merpati” post with regard to special treatment for Najib Razak in prison or is the “Merpati” post true?
PKR Deputy President Rafizi Ramli and the Amanah Vice President and MP for Pokok Sena, Mahfuz Omar yesterday asked the Home Ministry and the Prisons Department for clarification about social media post that the former Prime Minister, Najib Razak, is getting is getting preferential treatment in prison when serving a 12-year prison sentence for corruption offence, but there had been no response.
The “Merpati” social media post had been in circulation for the last two days and it is most unlikely that the authorities are unaware of it.
The authorities in the Home Ministry and the Prison Department should realise that 24 hours is a very long time in the era of social media, let alone 48 hours.
In the circumstances, the question becomes even more pertinent as to why the Home Ministry and the Prisons Department are keeping a “thunderous silence”.
The “Merpati” social media post alleged that Najib’s cell in the Kajang Prison complex has been renovated and there are plans to move him to the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital (CRH) to allow more access to visitors and VVIP facilities.
Mahfuz who claimed to be Najib’s “senior” at Kajang Prison demanded answers from the government over the anonymous message claiming that the former premier had been accorded certain privileges as he, Mahfuz, did not get any special treatment.
Mahfuz said the public must know the truth if the government was spending taxpayers’ money on the former premier.
Where is the Home Ministry’s quick response team to the “Merpati” post or are the allegations in the “Merpati” post true?
On May 17 last year, the Communications and Multimedia Ministry (KKMM) Quick Response Team issued a rebuttal at 3 pm where the Home Ministry denied the authenticity of a viral message claiming that a compound of RM2,000 to RM5,000 will be imposed on individuals who fail to comply with the standard operating procedure (SOP) of the Movement Control Order (MCO) during the Covid-19 pandemic, which was being outside the house/premises exceeding the set time limit without reasonable excuse.
The Home Ministry emphasised that the message was fake, and the public were urged to stop disseminating unauthentic information to avoid confusion and concern in the community.
The government should be aware that Malaysia is rapidly developing its digital and mobile connectivity.
A research study shows that 75% of Malaysians use the internet regularly to read news and keep up to date with current events and 72% use it to keep in touch with friends via social media.
The Home Ministry and the Prisons Department must instantly give a response to the “Merpati” social media post or the issue should be discussed at the Cabinet meeting being held in the morning today.