KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 2, 2014:
Without the formation of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) and with the Sedition Act not yet abolished, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president and Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar questioned Malaysia’s brand of justice.
“Is Umno-BN only going to be satisfied when all criticisms are stifled, when all elected leaders are either silenced or jailed, or worse?” asked Nurul Izzah in a statement released today.
She said it was clear that the government must begin work to set up the IPCMC as denying the need to initiate fundamental reforms would only end up trailblazing the pathway towards despotism.
Nurul Izzah pointed out that Malaysia had spent millions on various Royal Commissions of Inquiry (RCI).
This, she said, included Tun Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah’s Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysian Police in 2004.
Quoting a Bernama report, Nurul Izzah said the IPCMC if established would receive and investigate complaints about the police force and its personnel, prevent, detect and investigate corruption and other serious misconduct in the force.
She said it would also propose measures to the Home Minister to improve police integrity, reduce misconduct and build public confidence in the police force.
“There is absolutely no excuse why the government shouldn’t implement the IPCMC as well ensure that the Prime Minister fulfils his promise to abolish the Sedition Act.
“When all dissenters are silenced, and all criticism muted, the only voice that will reign supreme is that of despots and their Perkasa-like supporters, as well as that of the current IGP,” she said.
She added that her criticisms of the IGP were not limited to just those comments.
She brought up a previous case involving Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, who had been the Selangor Police Chief when 14-year-old Aminulrashid Amzah was shot and killed by a policeman.
“Khalid has on record defended the policeman who murdered Aminulrasyid in cold blood, by calling the Form 2 boy a criminal.
“Instead of demotion, Khalid has been promoted as our Inspector General of Police.”
She said the conviction of Corporal Jenain Subi, responsible for Aminulrasyid’s death was overturned in 2012 — and the IPCMC was nowhere in sight.
“Is this the brand of justice that Malaysia is promoting?” asked Nurul Izzah, who had pointed out that 231 custodial deaths were recorded in Malaysia’s jails since 2000.
In briefly mentioning the Sedition Act, Nurul Izzah said it was being used to quash dissent.
“Today, persecutions using the archaic and draconian Sedition Act against Opposition leaders, academics and anyone who Khalid finds offensive continues,” said Nurul Izzah. -therakyatpost