Former Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigation
Department chief Mat Zain Ibrahim said Najib had everything at his
disposal to prevent the Bersih chaos.
PETALING
JAYA: A former top cop says that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak should
share the blame for the Bersih 3.0 turning violent as he had the means
to stop it.
Najib should also be questioned by the government’s proposed
independent panel to investigate Bersih 3.0 rally, said former Kuala
Lumpur Criminal Investigation Department chief Mat Zain Ibrahim. Mat
Zain retired in 2001 as the KL CID chief.
Mat Zain said in a statement that Najib had the authority to prevent
Bersih 3.0 from turning ugly but he did not exercise his powers.
“The PM stands accountable and is liable to be cited for negligence for his failure to discharge his duties responsibly.
“He had all the means, the time and opportunity and, most
importantly, the authority to prevent the chaos, thus avoiding the
injuries sustained by members of the public, media personnel and
policemen, and damages to properties and other losses,” he said .
Mat Zain said that Najib could have prevented the rally from
continuing as planned if he only adhered to Bersih co-chairperson S
Ambiga’s call that the rally will be called off should Najib provide a
concrete guarantee that electoral reforms are implemented before the
polls.
Ambiga made this call merely four days before the scheduled rally but there was no response from Najib on the matter.
The former cop also said that Najib could have handled the
allegations that the top two Election Commission (EC) bosses – its
chairman Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof and its deputy, Wan Ahmad Wan Omar – were
Umno members, in a better manner.
The allegation was made by PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution
in an exclusive interview with a Malay daily Sinar Harian two days
before Bersih 3.0 rally demanding for free and fair elections.
“The PM, being the Umno president himself, could have made an
immediate clarification if they were not members of his party. That
would have put the matter to rest. His intervention would have eased off
the tension or might even have reduced the numbers participating in the
rally substantially.
“In a nutshell, the PM should have prevented the chaos from happening
at all costs, knowing a protest of that size would turn ugly, based on
past experiences since 1998…,” said Mat Zain.
“By refusing to compromise with the organisers and allowing the rally
to proceed with the knowledge that it will turn chaotic, Najib has
effectively exposed the safety of tens of thousands of innocent
civilians.”
About 80,000 people participated in the rally on April 28.
The Cabinet decided last Wednesday that it may establish an
independent panel to probe into the peaceful rally, which turned ugly
when a few protesters breached the barriers cordoning off Dataran
Merdeka. Police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Mat Zain said that he was pessimistic over the outcome of the independent panel.
Is Najib a voter?
On another matter, Mat Zain casts doubts on Najib’s eligibility as a voter in the electoral roll.
This comes from the changes to Najib’s full name in legal documents which differed from his name in the electoral roll.
“Briefly, the PM is registered as Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak.
When he affirmed his affidavits last September, he stated his name as
Najib, dropping the name “Mohd”. This is confirmed by his wife, Rosmah
Mansor, in her affidavit of Sept 21.
This means that the PM’s name is simply “Najib” and not “Mohd Najib”. These affidavits are valid in both civil and criminal proceedings.
This means that the PM’s name is simply “Najib” and not “Mohd Najib”. These affidavits are valid in both civil and criminal proceedings.
“The PM has already announced that he would be seeking re-election in
Pekan. It may appear trivial, but his name may provide the basis of
contention by the opposing candidates,” he said.
Mat Zain also said the one-hour objection period on nomination day
which was scrapped by the EC was a pre-emptive move to “shift the goal
to facilitate unfair advantage in favour of the PM”.
He added that Najib should either change his name in the electoral roll to match the one in his affidavits or vice-versa.
Mat Zain also repeated his criticism over the allegations that the EC two top heads were Umno members.
He said that constitutionally, only an independent tribunal can
investigate the EC’s position, adding that if Najib was serious about an
independent panel for the Bersih rally, he should do the same on the
EC.
“From my reading of the constitution, the only authority that can
adjudicate their conduct is a tribunal appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan
Agong, based on the representation made by the prime minister. The
courts have no jurisdiction over the removal of both the chairman and
deputy chairman of the EC. In this regard, the judge and the EC members
are of the same status.
“If the PM has shown courage to appoint the so-called independent
panel to investigate police brutality during Bersih 3.0 rally, then he
must show the same vigour in getting a tribunal to be established to
adjudicate the conduct of the EC chairman and his deputy,” he said.
2 comments:
The UMNO government/ruling class agreed to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the large presence of illegal foreigners in Sabah and the widespread issuance of Malaysian Mykads and identification documents. But UMNO has promised several times but has yet to do something concrete. UMNO/ruling class has to do something concrete before the General Elections(GE13). Starting the RCI work after the GE13 is a joke.
The Hindu Malaysians have the same problem. There is a UMNO minister who asked the Hindu Malaysians to have "nambikei" in UMNO. The word "nambikei" means "faith/trust" in Tamil language. The reality is that due cronyism and favoritism, most Hindu Malaysians, Chinese Malaysians and Malays were sidelined. Those who benefited under UMNO rule were the ruling class composed of Malays, Chinese, Indians, and East Malaysians who were cronies of UMNO. Now an UMNO Minister is asking Hindu Malaysians to put faith/trust in him. It means that if the Hindu Malaysians vote for UMNO in GE13, then UMNO will respond by helping to uplift the Hindu Malaysians out of poverty. But faith/trust can be given to the Almighty, not human beings because human beings do err all the time. It is dangerous to put faith/trust in human beings because they may betray you too. What Hindu Malaysians need is equal rights and meritocracy; what all the poor underclass Malaysians need is equal rights and meritocracy. The ruling class in Malaysia is opposed to equal rights and meritocracy. The ruling class favors cronyism, nepotism, and favoritism. The underclass in Malaysia favors equal rights and meritocracy. This is a class struggle.
There is UMNO with a 2/3 majority in Parliament and UMNO without a 2/3 majority in Parliament. Let's now discuss UMNO with a 2/3 majority. UMNO (with a 2/3 majority in Parliament) would be remembered for using cronyism, nepotism, and favoritism for many of her actions. UMNO, with a 2/3 majority in Parliament, would be remembered for putting itself even above the judicial system. As a result of cronyism, nepotism, and favoritism, it created a ruling class composed of Malays, Chinese, and Indians. As a result of cronyism, nepotism, and favoritism, the majority of the population of all races and religions became the underclass and had reduced opportunities. It would be difficult to separate cronyism, nepotism, and favoritism from electoral fraud: that is, cronyism and electoral fraud may be interdependent.
There is UMNO with a 2/3 majority in Parliament and UMNO without a 2/3 majority in Parliament. Let's now discuss UMNO with a 2/3 majority. UMNO (with a 2/3 majority in Parliament) would be remembered for using cronyism, nepotism, and favoritism for many of her actions. UMNO, with a 2/3 majority in Parliament, would be remembered for putting itself even above the judicial system. As a result of cronyism, nepotism, and favoritism, it created a ruling class composed of Malays, Chinese, and Indians. As a result of cronyism, nepotism, and favoritism, the majority of the population of all races and religions became the underclass and had reduced opportunities. It would be difficult to separate cronyism, nepotism, and favoritism from electoral fraud: that is, cronyism and electoral fraud may be interdependent.
At some point in time Sabahans must draw the line somewhere. Waiting for GE13 to be over before the RCI can do what they should do may not be a good idea. Any way, its up to Sabahans to decide. Should the RCI do its work before GE13 or after GE13 is the burning question. If the Sabahans continue to tolerate and have faith/trust in UMNO, then it is their own problem. It is for Sabahans to wise up. It is for Sabahans to realize that they have been shortchanged. It is for Sabahans to decide their own future. Sabahans cannot and should not wait and wait for the RCI to do its work. I say that the RCI should do its work before GE13; and this should be the ultimatum. I say that RCI should complete its work before GE13; and this should be the ultimatum. I say that RCI starting its work before GE13 is insufficient. Starting its work and completing its work are not the same. Starting is only starting. Starting and completing are different. Sabahans have waited too long for RCI. There should be no more delays. The RCI must complete and finish its work before GE13. RCI must complete and finish its work to the satisfaction of the Sabahans before the GE13. It is important that the Sabahans be satisfied with findings of the RCI before the GE13 is held. This should be the ultimatum.
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The political history of Malaysia can be divided into two chapters: that is, chapter one and chapter two. Chapter One is about UMNO rule with a 2/3 majority in Parliament. Chapter Two is about UMNO rule without a 2/3 majority in Parliament. We are now in Chapter Two. The beginning of Chapter Two is the end of Chapter One. Similarly, the end of Chapter One is the beginning of Chapter Two. Is it a class struggle? Is it a class struggle between the ruling class and the underclass? Is it similar to Bastille? Is Chapter Two a result of the rise of the underclass in Malaysia? May be the underclass are becoming bolder in Malaysia to demand equal rights and meritocracy. May be. We will wait and see.
They have had Bersih 1.0, Bersih 2.0, and Bersih 3.0. From Bersih 1.0 to Bersih 3.0, the crowd seems to be getting larger and bolder. I am getting worried. Please try using the ballot box.
Chapter One had its social, political, and economic effects for the nation. Chapter Two has just begun and its social, political, and economic changes are something we have to wait and see.
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