With the recent spotlight on the Fashion Valet case, now’s a good time to remind Malaysians about 4 more Malaysian public figures who have been slapped with serious charges, but got away with reduced sentences, fines, and minimal punishment.
In Malaysia, being “the right kind of criminal” can almost be a badge of honor. Whether it’s deflecting blame onto others, dismissing accusations with deflections, or cozying up to the powerful, each of these individuals has managed to dodge consequences that would have felled anyone else.
Here are four Malaysian public figures who, despite serious accusations, are remarkably free to continue their lives as they please.
#1. Nur Fitri Azmeer Nordin – Math genius with a perverted mind
First up, we have Nur Fitri Azmeer Nordin the math prodigy, in one case that will leave you scratching your head.
While on a scholarship in London in 2015, Nur Fitri was found guilty of possessing over 30,000 files of child pornography – content British police described as among the “most extreme” they’d ever encountered.
Sentenced to five years in prison, he served only nine months before quietly returning to Malaysia.
But what happened next? Despite his criminal record, Nur Fitri managed to enroll in a Master’s program at a local Malaysian university and was even promoted to a PhD-level program.
A lecturer remarked that as long as there were no “new cases,” they would assume he’d reformed. Not exactly the robust accountability you’d expect, is it?
In a bizarre twist, the public seemed divided, with some still hailing his academic talents and looking past the fact that he’d committed serious crimes abroad.
#2. Rosmah Mansor – The “First Lady of Shopping”
No list of free-roaming Malaysian elites would be complete without Rosmah Mansor. Married to former Prime Minister Najib Razak, Rosmah has gained a reputation as a spendthrift, with a particular taste for luxury.
From handbags to diamonds to private jets, her shopping sprees have earned her the nickname “The First Lady of Shopping.” One trip to a boutique in Sydney reportedly racked up RM325,000 on a single visit.
The Malaysian police have seized over RM1 billion worth of luxury items from her residences, including 12,000 pieces of jewelry, hundreds of watches, and nearly 600 handbags.
But, despite the astonishing lifestyle funded by suspicious means, Rosmah walks free. She’s become the face of Malaysia’s elite lifestyle and the fact that her actions have gone unpunished is perhaps one of the clearest examples of how the “right kind of crime” can go unnoticed.
#3. MACC Chief Azam Baki
Next, we have Azam Baki, ex-leader of Malaysia’s Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner. Yes, you read that right – the *chief* of the anti-corruption squad himself was alleged to be swimming in murky waters.
Back in 2015, it was reported that Azam purchased millions of shares in a company, which raised a few questions.
Firstly, civil servants are supposed to disclose both their movable and immovable assets – something Azam didn’t do.
Secondly, how did a civil servant afford those shares in the first place?
When a senior researcher from the Centre for Combating Cronyism and Corruption (C4) exposed the story, Azam’s defense wasn’t exactly confidence-inspiring.
He claimed he did not purchase the shares and that his brother had used his trading account to buy shares in public listed companies.
The head of anti-corruption further added that he owed no one any explanations to anyone. Ironically, as a public servant, he kind of does owe explanations – to the public.
But that didn’t seem to bother him. The real kicker? Azam didn’t face any significant repercussions. Despite protests calling for his resignation, he’s still in his role and hasn’t exactly faded from the spotlight.
To this day, the Securities Commission can’t confirm if Azam technically broke the law or not.
#4. Najib Razak
Finally, Najib Razak, former Prime Minister and the man behind one of the world’s largest financial scandals – the 1MDB fiasco.
If you’ve heard of Malaysia, you’ve probably heard about Najib’s scandal, which involved embezzling billions from a sovereign wealth fund.
Charged with 42 offenses, Najib’s background is a perfect storm of nepotism and power.
The son of another former Prime Minister, he entered politics at just 23, stepping into his father’s shoes after his passing.
Najib’s record is also one of blatant abuse of power. When the 1MDB scandal erupted, he responded by removing his critics, including his Deputy Prime Minister, suspending newspapers, and pushing a controversial National Security Council Bill that expanded his authority.
In the latest news, Najib has finally come out and apologized to the Malaysian people for his part in the 1MBD scandal after spending a little over 2 years in jail.
“I have already been punished politically, but as I am clearly not the mastermind and neither did I collaborate with Jho Low as recent events have shown, I should not be victimised legally,” he was quoted as saying.
So, what does it take to succeed as a criminal in Malaysia?
Welcome to a world where corruption creates convenient scapegoats, and bigger culprits run free, enjoying life under a different kind of spotlight.
The pattern is pretty clear – While small crimes get sensationalized, some serious crimes stay comfortably ignored.
So, what does it take to succeed as a criminal in Malaysia? It seems you need the right connections, the ability to shrug off scandal, and perhaps a taste for luxury. If you can keep the right people happy and control the media narrative, then the sky’s the limit!
But for the rest of us? We’ll stick to following the law and hoping for a system that, someday, values fairness over favoritism.
Is it finally time for Malaysia to tighten its approach to elite crime, or is this just the way things will always be?
What do you think?
Submit your opinion to hello@inreallife.my and you may be featured on In Real Life Malaysia.
Also read: Are Khazanah and PMB To Blame For Their RM47 Million Investment in Failed Company FashionValet?
Are Khazanah and PMB To Blame For Their RM47 Million Investment in Failed Company FashionValet?
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