BY LEE SHI-IAN
THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER
OCTOBER 13, 2013
PKR has called on the Inspector-General of Police to retract the shocking offer he made to N. Surendran and instead meet the opposition halfway to address the weaknesses within the police force.
Vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar (pic) said Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar’s offer to PKR’s Padang Serai MP, N. Surendran – accompany police and experience first-hand a possible shootout with criminals – was devoid of any principle. She also expressed indignation at the indemnity clause inserted by Khalid.
Surendran, also a PKR vice-president, has been a vocal critic of the police and in particular how they have conducted an on-going crackdown on gangs and violent crime. He has said he is willing to accept the IGP’s offer.
Nurul Izzah is against it. “Surendran, like every single Malaysian, has every right to request for the highest level of professionalism from the police and to be protected without bias, without the fear of threats and requests for an indemnity,” she said in a statement.
“No members of Parliament should entertain this police display of bias, uncouth and threatening behaviour, lest we all fall into a downward spiral of irresponsible conduct. I, myself, will not condone any of my colleagues pursuing such risky endeavours,” the Lembah Pantai MP said.
Nurul Izzah called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to stop being preoccupied with the Umno general election to the point that he forgets to maintain sanity and common sense within his own Cabinet. She said the government should be Malaysia-oriented, not Umno-action oriented.
“Khalid is well aware of the weaknesses within the police force which was highlighted in the findings of the 2005 Royal Commission of Inquiry. The question is, why are authorities blatantly ignoring the RCI’s findings?” Nurul Izzah said.
The current police to population ratio now stands at 1:700, which is well within international standards and Nurul Izzah argued that despite the police force boasting a total of 112,583 personnel and officers, the percentage tasked with combating crime was only 18%.
“The findings of the RCI was to increase the efficiency and professionalism of the police force, besides boosting the public’s confidence in security personnel. How can authorities ignore repeated calls for the formation of an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission?”
Nurul Izzah reminded Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Khalid that it was their responsibility to highlight the weaknesses and loopholes in any government programme.
“This is especially so when there are giant loopholes in the statements made by government representatives. This weaknesses must be highlighted as it will affect the state of security in Malaysia if left unchecked,” she said. – October 13, 2013.
SOURCE:
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/pkr-criticises-igps-shootout-offer-says-willing-to-help-fix-police-weakness
