Stretching absurdity to the extreme! — P. Ramakrishnan
DEC 29 — Aliran is appalled by the statement of Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar claiming that the Sri Kembangan state assemblyperson Ean Yong Hian Wah had intimidated the police when he called on them to stop their investigation of DAP Secretary-General, Lim Guan Eng, for alleged sedition.
It is difficult to understand how a request or a demand to stop their investigation of Lim Guan Eng — in what is interpreted by the police as sedition — can be construed as directing the police to cease their investigation of Guan Eng. What authority does Ean Yong have to direct the police? Or are they recognising that he has such powers to do so? He has no such powers. Why, then, does Khalid claim that the police were directed by Ean Yong to desist from their investigation?
On what basis does Khalid state, “I wish to stress that the honourable member should not try to intimidate us …” Irrespective of whether it was a request or a demand in wanting the police not to investigate Guan Eng, in what way does that constitute intimidation?
Is Khalid claiming that the police were indeed intimidated by Ean Yong’s statement? Is he admitting that the police indeed felt intimidated by Ean Yong? Imagine that, one lonely voice can intimidate the entire police force! This is stretching absurdity to the extreme! This is doing violence to the word.
Does the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein, who is in charge of the police force agree with this ridiculous interpretation?
Khalid’s statement has serious repercussions on civil society. If civil society were to tell the police not to accept bribes, or urge the police not to be cruel to the detainees, or ask the police to be even handed when dealing with dissidents, would that now be interpreted as a directive and therefore having the effect of an intimidation?
On a serious note, if the police are so easily intimidated by a mere statement, how are they going to ensure our safety on a daily basis when the crime rate has soared to frightening levels? There are so many criminals running around killing and raping, snatching bags and valuables from pedestrians on the street, putting us in fear for our own well-being, how then are the police going to cope with this intimidating environment we are living in?
The police should direct their attention to solving serious crime in the country instead of going after the opposition. Their conduct with regards to the opposition is becoming very blatant. People are troubled by this and are disappointed with the police.
* P. Ramakrishnan is the president of Aliran.
MI
29/12/09
DEC 29 — Aliran is appalled by the statement of Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar claiming that the Sri Kembangan state assemblyperson Ean Yong Hian Wah had intimidated the police when he called on them to stop their investigation of DAP Secretary-General, Lim Guan Eng, for alleged sedition.
It is difficult to understand how a request or a demand to stop their investigation of Lim Guan Eng — in what is interpreted by the police as sedition — can be construed as directing the police to cease their investigation of Guan Eng. What authority does Ean Yong have to direct the police? Or are they recognising that he has such powers to do so? He has no such powers. Why, then, does Khalid claim that the police were directed by Ean Yong to desist from their investigation?
On what basis does Khalid state, “I wish to stress that the honourable member should not try to intimidate us …” Irrespective of whether it was a request or a demand in wanting the police not to investigate Guan Eng, in what way does that constitute intimidation?
Is Khalid claiming that the police were indeed intimidated by Ean Yong’s statement? Is he admitting that the police indeed felt intimidated by Ean Yong? Imagine that, one lonely voice can intimidate the entire police force! This is stretching absurdity to the extreme! This is doing violence to the word.
Does the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein, who is in charge of the police force agree with this ridiculous interpretation?
Khalid’s statement has serious repercussions on civil society. If civil society were to tell the police not to accept bribes, or urge the police not to be cruel to the detainees, or ask the police to be even handed when dealing with dissidents, would that now be interpreted as a directive and therefore having the effect of an intimidation?
On a serious note, if the police are so easily intimidated by a mere statement, how are they going to ensure our safety on a daily basis when the crime rate has soared to frightening levels? There are so many criminals running around killing and raping, snatching bags and valuables from pedestrians on the street, putting us in fear for our own well-being, how then are the police going to cope with this intimidating environment we are living in?
The police should direct their attention to solving serious crime in the country instead of going after the opposition. Their conduct with regards to the opposition is becoming very blatant. People are troubled by this and are disappointed with the police.
* P. Ramakrishnan is the president of Aliran.
MI
29/12/09
No comments:
Post a Comment