THE haves and have nots. Those who wield power and those who are subject to it.
For better or worse, these are truisms that apply to most societies. This was most certainly highlighted in a recent clip uploaded by Him Othman (@im_hin_othman) on TikTok.
In the three-minute clip, an inmate who claimed to have served a four-month spell in Kajang Prison shared his experience of being detained at the pleasure of His Majesty Yang DiPertuan Agong, including being in the same confines as Bossku a.k.a. incarcerated former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
In the beginning of the interview, the unidentified inmate contended that behind bars, everyone is equal whether one is from the working class or a disgraced former prime minister (PM).
He recounted that everyone referred to Najib with his “Bossku” moniker and there was almost a camaraderie between all the inmates. But then he let slip that Bossku is housed “in a separate cell, away from the others”.
Not only did Najib have access to a computer and even an exercise bike, it was said he had the freedom to leave the cell whenever he wanted. This is unlike other inmates who were strictly regulated when they could do so.
The clip which has garnered 784.6K views at the time of writing with 24,500 likes 3,817 shares and 719 comments certainly enjoyed a very timely release as it coincided with the 72-year-old former UMNO president’s successful appeal to have his addendum on house arrest be heard again in the High Court.
One curious commenter wondered if such a class division existed even in prison.
To which it was confirmed that a separate block did indeed exist for cops, military personnel and VIPs.
With one justifying the need on the grounds of safety.
However, some reckoned that separate confinement was needed as politicians were privy to sensitive information involving national security.
While the reasons proffered may justify the different block of cells to house inmates, it does not answer why Najib is offered special privileges. One netizen pointedly remarked that there is a vast difference between incarcerated common folks and VIPs.
It was also pointed out the different cell was used to hold current Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when he was behind bars. But there was no mention of special privileges.
Incredibly, there were those who sought to justify this special treatment by stating that as former PM, he is entitled. Their justification is that one cannot be shaming the country by treating him the same as any other common criminal.
With another pointing out that powerful criminals and gangsters also had similar privileges. This commenter went on to assert that Bossku “deserves respect” while being put behind bars.
In light of this special treatment, many brought up Najib’s attempts to have the rest of his sentence commuted to house arrest. This is despite his involvement in the 1MBD scandal to which he has “apologised” for his lax overview while in power.
The judiciary is already being viewed with scepticism by the rakyat when dishing out justice. There is already perceived bias when dealing with high profile cases involving VIPs.
Now, the prison system is being called into question. While nobody is surprised that Bossku enjoys special privileges in Kajang Prison, the question is what can be done to ensure that he serves his time like all other prisoners.
Lest it be forgotten that “justice must not only be done but be seen to be done’. One netizen summed it up best when he philosophised that “even hell has differing levels”. – Jan 7, 2025
