Noh Omar Puts Foot Into His Mouth
Wednesday, 30-11-2005Yesterday, the Deputy Internal Security Minister Noh Omar again put his foot into his mouth.
When he was surrounded by journalists after the Speaker rejected my emergency motion on the abuses by police, Noh Omar expressed disappointment then went on and said foreigners who are not happy with Malaysia can leave this country.
Many journalists were angry with Noh Omar’s reply and they asked us to comment. This type of arrogance reflects not only his Kampong Boy mentality, but also has further tarnished the country’s image. He seemed have no sense on international diplomacy and has totally gone against the stand taken by PM on the strip-n-rob issue, and also the Squatgate scandal.
Pak Lah will surely be disgusted with his reply when he reads the newspapers today.
The three Chinese nationals who had lodged a police report earlier have been invited to the PJ Police Station for further inquiry. I just could not believe the number of hours that they spent in the police station. Their lawyer Sankara Nair, me and Ricky Low (my party member) went to the PJ Police Station at 9.40am and this statement taking has wasted their whole day, they left the police station at 6.30pm. My God, what a torture!!
All the photographers were already waiting for us at the gate when we arrived. The girls tried to hide their faces and wanted to scold the reporters. I pulled them aside and told them not to misbehave in front of the press. The girls were not prepared to meet so many members of press, the publicity that they gained lately has somehow caused inconveniences in their lives, and they are not used to this kind of exposures.
They had never expected that their detention and a police report can be turned to an international issue till it affects bi-lateral relations between Malaysia and China. Yes, I never expected this too.
When I knew about their unlawful detention , I have spent quite some time to persuade them to come out to lodge police reports and complaint to the relevent authorities. At that time, I just wanted to fight for their rights and freedom which were denied for fournights and five days. At that time, I never thought of this case can create such a great impact. I thank the police for shooting themselves in the foot, and also thank the Malaysian and international media for reporting them..
When I saw the women today, I actually felt sorry for them. Before I left for Parliament to wait for the Speaker to decide the fate of my emergency motion at about 11.10am, I told the media gathered outside the police station that these girls are not used to media exposures and asked the media to be understanding. I also told them they are afraid their family members in China will see their photos in the media back there and blame them. Yes, they are ordinary people, however the whole case make them very disturbed and they are hoping it will end soon.
My heart goes out to them. Keep up the good work, Teresa!
It is appalling to note that there is still this mentality of ‘You tak suka, keluar Malaysia’ among our MPs.
Comment by howsy — Wednesday, 30-11-2005 @ 07: 54.08
If it takes almost nine hours to take statements, then this is clear harassment (a subtle one though). “Since you report me, I will make your life miserable.”
Don’t be surprised, they might be called up again and again.
This issue could have been extinguished like a candle flame had the people in authority acted firmly, resolutely and apologetically. But instead they fanned the flame into a conflagration.
This is why China is not ready to receive the Malaysian Apology Mission.
With Nor’s latest vituperation, I think China will tell this mission to not bother visiting them.
What is an apology without sincerity.
Comment by tony — Wednesday, 30-11-2005 @ 08: 10.41
Thank you so much for doing what you did for the Chinese women, and highlighting this issue.
However, the 20-something-old people of Malaysia like myself would like to see something getting DONE. Some butt-kicking
I have not heard about the Rafidah/AP thing for quite some weeks already. I bet you all Malaysians do not know what the resolution or future pre-emptive failsafes are. Is there even one?
First, snatch thefts and Canny Ong. Forgotten. Are we really safer now? Houses are still getting broken into.
Then, Samy Vellu and his highways crashing down? Forgotten.
Next, Rafidah and her infamy/deceit/running away from the AP issues? Forgotten.
This whole Squatgate issue? Forgotten in another month or so while the police harass their accusers, force them to waste their time at police stations, and spin internationally embarrassing and narrow-minded bull.
We need to keep all outstanding issues ALIVE and WELL-PUBLICIZED until there is clear resolution!
There should be a summary and listing of ALL outstanding issues!
I will voting in the next election. I have a long memory. And I will be certain I vote for and appreciate those who do the right thing.
Comment by John — Wednesday, 30-11-2005 @ 08: 51.56
Noh Omar’s statement must be shared with every single nation in the world. Wish BBC and CNN will post a report on this
Comment by 周瑜 — Wednesday, 30-11-2005 @ 08: 58.36
“Not happy, leave this country” or “This is my country!” seems to have become some of the popular quotes for the kampong boys these days. It’s like an expedient tool enabling them to be excused from being accountable for their responsibility. More like a baby throwing pacifier out of the pram when upset.
Pathetic!
The DAPs fighting for justice in the parliament has captured the hearts of many Malaysians. I don’t see the MCAs engaging in real fight other than organizing for the publish of a guide on police and citizen rights, seen as a book meant to inform the public on how to avoid conflict with the police thugs.
Comment by AdmiralChengHo — Wednesday, 30-11-2005 @ 09: 34.08
Tourism budget for 2006 down the drain, and I thought our PM says there’ll be no cover up??
What’s happening?
Comment by lithoc — Wednesday, 30-11-2005 @ 09: 51.20
Basically Noh thinks the police force can made alot of ton’s of money for RAKYAT…..
BUT the truth is police making ton’s of money from RAKYAT!!
NOH Kalau lar kamu tak tahu berapa pentingnya pelancongan di negara ini baik kau DIAM DIAM DUDUK DI RUMAH!!
Rafidah said Amir Said this CASE will not effect Malaysia tourism and China people will still come to Malaysia….
But now I dont think China or even Vietnam people will come to Malaysia…..
cos Noh said “IF YOU DONT LIKE GO BACK LAR….!!”
Wat a STATEMENT…....
PM DONT MAKE US RAKYAT LOOK DONT AT YOU!!
Comment by Ky — Wednesday, 30-11-2005 @ 12: 40.53
You’re doing a great thing for the people, better than papers who claim they are the “People’s Paper” but promptly clam up when told to do so by the Government.
This is not the first time Noh Omar has defended the police this way. In the Kamunting riots ( http://www.aliran.com/monthly/2004b/11b.html ) where the detainees told of police abuse he accused them of trying to tarnish the country’s image, calling them “naughty boys’ drawings”. But now that there is video proof of police abuse he tells the foreigners to go home! Who’s tarnishing the country’s image now? A stellar product of the “katak bawah tempurung” mentality – living in a self contained environment. He is too comfortable in his own sphere, and greedy for the support of the police, to think about the reprecussions to Malaysia and the world. We need China but China certainly doesn’t need us!
It’s Pak Lah’s time to convert words into action. Hold him to his promise to combat corruption.
Comment by TimTeoh — Wednesday, 30-11-2005 @ 13: 00.19
Unlike other blogs I read, yours is full of sincerity and honesty. You write with such humility that I enjoy every word you blogged. Reading them I know that your motive of helping others is pure and unselfish. Please continue to reveal issues that matters to the public. Thank you for being in the forefront of this police abuse issue. If not for your role I am sure it will not have reached the impact we see today. We need constant pressure to force the government to change their mindset that anything that comes from the opposition cannot be good. You show them that you are not only good, but great too.
It seems that the deputy home minister and deputy IGP are not diplomatic enough to know how to handle this delicate human rights issue. They should not be holding their posts at all. Each time they open their mouths, instead of helping to resolve an ugly incident, they only worsen it. I don’t know what the PM should do. I hope that he will have the courage to just sack them because their actions does not help his administration. Their reactions has sent all of us back into the stone age. They are not working with him but against him. I am watching closely at whether the PM has the strength to act when courage calls for him to do so.
Comment by petyew — Wednesday, 30-11-2005 @ 16: 53.21
Ng Yen YEn said : Michael Chong got the mms 1st,but DAP potong jalan .How can ahhh!!
typical chinese behaviour : big issue turn into small, small turn into none.
MCA always one step behind for any issues .
Comment by soon san — Wednesday, 30-11-2005 @ 17: 28.15
I do not know about who is who in the parliament but when this Deputy Internal Security Minister Noh Omar guy speak about all these kampungboy mentality speeches, what does his superior have to say?
Anyway, I feel that not only the 3 or 4 chinese female’s issue need to be resolved, the issues with how our PDRM handles arrest also need to be corrected. The abuse and corruption has been happening for too long. We need to seize this oppurtunity to stop these malpratices. I would not want my family or me to go through such horrible experiences. All those stories that has surfaced since this incident is really disturbing.
I seriously hope that Pak Lah can do something about corruption in this country.
Comment by abubin — Wednesday, 30-11-2005 @ 17: 52.25
thanks a lot for your effort.
Comment by somewhat — Wednesday, 30-11-2005 @ 19: 05.47
Now where is Pak Lah? He should be around to ensure that his subordinates do not make things worse. It is time he gags them instead of gagging the press. If his subordinates colonify their brains ie having their grey matter kept in unusual places, he should be there to put a stop to the nonsense.
On the one hand Noh claims that he is a deputy minister and obviously does not want to tarnish the nation’s image and on the other he shoots his big mouth and does just that. And offering to apologise if anyone feels slighted is no apology. You think the Chinese and the others will accept something like this which is even less than half-hearted. Obviously, he knows Noh what he speaks of.
Comment by LOne — Wednesday, 30-11-2005 @ 20: 55.14
This Deputy Minister Noh Omar should not even be put in charge of running a public lavatory, let alone the Malaysian Police. To say one thing (which has been recorded and I have heard it for myself through the internet)and then says he has been misquoted displays a very dishonourable quality unbefitting that of a Minister of Malaysia. If you listen to the recording, he very clearly and unmistakenly tells them to “balek,lah” with the tone and attitude of “if you don’t like it here, you can f*%#k off!” This kind of kampong-boy mentality totally undermines the damage-control that our PM Abdullah Badawi is desperately trying to do and has now worsen the situation to an international situation whereby China has now officially put in a request (actually, a protest!)for actions to be taken against those Police excesses against their citizens. Has this Noh Omar got not even an iota of brains or common sense (is it really so hard?) to help shore up Malaysia’s image instead of pouring on more shit? Or does he have an even more dangerous or ambitious agenda? Pak lah has to be very very careful or else it may be another case of “et tu Brutus?”
As for the Police, I say go get ‘em, Teresa for we must have more people who are brave enough to speak out against such Police abuses and excesses. Just look at the horrifying litany of recent Police abuses starting with a black-eye for a former DPM and so many other non-acceptable Police incidents and complaints! It is just too much and each and every citizen of Malaysia must speak up and speak out against an erosion of of our civil rights and liberties. Speak up now or we may end up like Greece, Argentina, Zimbabwe, Uzbekistan or very recently Azerbaijan, all countries that have suffered Police terrorism one time or another in the last 40 years or so.
Teresa, you are doing a fine, fine job and in truth I may even vote for you in the next General Elections!
Comment by kopimelaka — Thursday, 01-12-2005 @ 08: 53.38