'Scrutiny beyond titles and wealth'

SHAH ALAM - The Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Abim) has stressed the importance of holding all individuals, particularly those in positions of power or religious leadership, accountable to the law.

Abim vice-president Zairudin Hashim stressed that Islamic principles uphold the rule of law and equal justice for all.

"Islam prescribes clear guidelines for both the government and the people.

"The government's responsibility lies in respecting the rights of its citizens, which includes abiding by the divine laws of Allah SWT," he told Sinar.

He further emphasised the need for law, not politics or personal influence, to be the cornerstone of national governance.

"A true government represents the system of law itself, not a shield for individuals to evade scrutiny based on their titles or connections," he said.

This sentiment echoes concerns raised by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who advocated for investigations into individuals whose wealth accumulation seems unjustified, regardless of their titles or accolades.

Zairudin reiterated the significance of the rule of law as enshrined in the Rukun Negara.

"It simply means everyone, from the government to the people, is bound by the law and must obey it equally," he added.

However, he cautioned against making generalisations about transparency based solely on power or position.

"Not all individuals in positions of authority lack transparency in their work.

"We must judge based on specific actions and evidence, not broad assumptions," he said.