Bangladesh, Aug. 27 -- Malaysia has spent years trying to rebuild public confidence in its institutions after a succession of political scandals damaged the countrys reputation for clean and accountable governance. The latest case involving former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is therefore about far more than one politician and a disputed declaration of wealth. It raises a fundamental question for Malaysia: can the countrys anti-corruption institutions apply the law equally, even when the person standing before the court once occupied the highest political office?

A Malaysian court charged Ismail Sabri on August 27 with failing to declare assets to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). According to Malaysias state news ag...