Pakatan talks roundly criticises police, IGP
A roundtable discussion organised by Pakatan Rakyat decided unanimously today that the current Inspector General of Police Musa Hassan must step down and be replaced.
Among those present were members of parliament from DAP (15), PKR (10), PAS (2), one senator, non-governmental organisations and concerned citizens.
DAP veteran leader Lim Kit Siang chaired the session in parliament while PR leader Anwar Ibrahim moderated the discussion.
The four resolutions proposed by PR are:
1. Current IGP Musa Hassan should not seek a further 2-year renewel of his tenure of service
2. Appointment of a new IGP
3. Prime Minister to include in his KPI for crime prevention all categories of crime proposed by the Dzaiddin Police Royal Commission in its May 2005 report
4. Setting up of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC)
Lim, in his opening speech, called on the new IGP to break away from colonial past by introducing democratic policing to protect the people and not the regime in power.
“I moved the motion against Musa for being more of a lobbyist for police mega deals instead of being the police leader and for the ‘great lie’ that the real crime in Malaysia was not the worsening crime situation but a problem of misperception,” he said.
He also said that the re-appointment of Musa for another term would cast an adverse aspersion on all the senior police officers.
“As if there is not a single one out of the eight top police officers occupying key police positions below the post of IGP qualified or competent enough to become the new chief to provide leadership and culture and roll back the tide of crime in the past five years,” he explained.
People don’t feel safe
Citing a Home Ministry website poll where 97 percent of the respondents say they do not feel safe, he said that “the IGP should have resigned in ignominy” because of this.
Meanwhile, Anwar said that the government agencies, such as the PDRM, should not play up racial issues when they are hit with criticisms from all quarters.
“They should not construe it as an attack on another Malay leader. This is a nationwide problem and we need a stronger leader,” he said.
PAS treasurer Dr Hatta Ramli questioned the suitability of the police force current crop of leaders to replace to IGP, saying that they might probably have to “outsource” candidates.
Senator Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim said that setting up the IPCMC is the most critical to “protect the police against themselves”.
“There is no police force in the world known to have been able to police itself,” he said.
Former de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim added that changing the IGP might not necessarily solve the problem as the whole police force requires a major overhaul.
He said that lack of information and evidence also prevented criminals and corrupt politicians from being brought to book.
Yip Ai Tsin/Mkini
