IGP MUST KNOW HIS PLACE! Don't intervene in policy or political debates on Sedition Act - Surendran

I refer to IGP Khalid Bakar's remarks on Twitter that the Paris attacks shows that the Sedition Act is needed in our country.

Khalid's remarks are a desperate attempt to justify continued usage of the draconian and archaic Sedition Act 1948. His claim is without any logic or basis.

How can the Sedition Act possibly protect the country from terrorist attacks? Only good police work and intelligence gathering can prevent terrorist incidents from occurring.

On the contrary, the Sedition Act criminalizes legitimate criticism of the government and the authorities. For example, why are the police now investigating PKR Adun Haniza Talha merely for questioning the federal budget allocation for Permata? Can the IGP answer this?

It is even more disturbing that the IGP has chosen to interfere in the ongoing dispute between the BN and the Opposition/ civil society on the retention and use of the Sedition Act.

The IGP, as a top civil servant, has no business to publicly intervene in policy or political matters. The IGP's job is strictly confined to law enforcement.

His interference in policy matters outside his ambit will only further tarnish and damage the reputation of the police force.

N Surendran, MP for Padang Serai, Political Bureau Member, Keadilan