KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 — DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang today said he is offended by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan's warning to politicians against becoming role models for criminals.
"Does Musa regard Gandhi as having spent his whole life to be a 'role model for criminals', and if not, he should withdraw his offensive remark and apologise to all responsible and principled politicians in the country," said Lim in response to a New Straits Times report today.
"Responsible and principled politicians never hold themselves as models for criminals, as when we break the law or are held to have broken the law, it is not for any self-gain or profit like robbing public coffers or private wealth," he added.
Lim said that Musa has failed to understand the thrust of a Royal Commission report on the police force which recommended the police to make defending human rights as one of its priorities.
"When Musa cannot see the fundamental difference between politicians who are trying to mainstream human rights to create a better Malaysia from big-time criminals, it is time that Malaysia had a new Inspector-General of Police who can provide the leadership to create an efficient, incorruptible, human rights-sensitive, professional world-class police service which can be the pride of all Malaysians," he said in a statement today.
Today's New Straits Times quoted the IGP as saying politicians who held illegal demonstrations had become role models for criminals by blatantly defying the law.
In a separate statement, Lim said it was not appropriate for Jerlun MP Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir to hide behind the 1956 Razak Report to defend his suggestion that vernacular schools should be closed.
In the report, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein proposed a single education system to unify students from all races.
"Mukhriz should realise that it was Razak who amended the Constitution in 1971 to make it an offence of sedition to propose the closure of Chinese and Tamil primary schools," said the Ipoh Timor MP.
"I am not advocating that Mukhriz be charged under the Sedition Act which could involve his disqualification as MP for Jerlun and the disenfranchisement of his civil rights to hold office in any political party or society for five years if he is convicted and fined RM2,000 or jailed for more than a year," added Lim.
He said that Mukhriz should realise that he has committed an offence.
Lim also slammed Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein for defending Mukhriz.
"The Education Minister should realise that he cannot usurp the functions and powers of the Attorney-General and the judiciary by overturning clear legal precedents that any call for the closure of Chinese and Tamil primary schools runs afoul of the four 'sensitive issues' protected by the 1971 constitution amendment," said Lim.
He also alleged that police are practising double standards for immediately investigating MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek for his remarks on Malay supremacy but taking no action so far against the son of the former Prime Minister.
Adib Zalkapli
The Malaysian Insider
05/12/08
PEOPLE'S POWER
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