Forum ” The Naked Truth In The Police: How To Stop The Rot!”
Monday, 05-12-2005DAP English Forum” The Naked Truth In The Police: How To Stop The Rot!”
Date: 06.12.2005 (Tuesday)
Time: 8.00pm
Venue: Skyroom, 15th floor, Federal Hotel, Kuala Lumpur
Speakers: Lim Kit Siang, Teresa Kok, Tunku Aziz (former Royal Police Commisioner), Dato Param (President of Trasnparency International), Malik Imtiaz (human rights lawyer), Ivy Josiah (former Royal Police Commisioner)
Greetings to all logged in:
What message are our authorities and leaders conveying to us and the world with regard to the mistreatment of a female detainee in PJ Central Police lock up? Shameful, despicable, totally inhuman are probably too mild to describe this revolting and nauseating incident. My sympathy goes to the woman (whoever she is irrespective of her nationality)whose dignity and modesty have been violated in the most humiliating manner.
According to the Star newspaper report, (Star Dec 1), Deputy Minister of Internal Security Ministry, Noh Omar was reported to have said, “Foreigners could go back to their own countries if they thought malaysia police were brutal.” Datuk Noh Omar has demonstrated utter disrespect to foreign visitors and to all Malaysians who bear his thoughless and shameful outburst. The respective authorities ought to explain why they broke their moral convenant with the Malaysian people to provide complete, balance, fair and accurate information on this prevailing issue.Can someone please explain why thinking aloud about the root cause is considered seditious and “threatening” to national security?
This reminds me of the Pauline Hanson episode in Australia where she made many racists remarks that offended many Asians within the country. Nevertheless, the media in Australia was open to criticisms and feedback from all quarters and openly condemned her position. There was no news blackout, the government firmly put forth their position. Most Australians are not racists, they are friendly, hospitable people except for those that demean others. By protecting our own rot, Malaysia is slowly but surely stewing a big pot of pain that threathens to paralyyze our good relations with foreign peoples and cultures.
Monitoring recent Press reports about our parlimentary sessions has taken me to varying degrees of disgust and sorrow. Two days ago, a prominent leader and social activist was quoted as saying that we should not demoralize the police by over-emphasizing the case. Two weeks earlier another politician responded to a query about filthy toilets by stating that “toilets are like new brides.” What has come of the boisterous proclamation that Malaysia is a caring society? Why are we witnessing intimidation of the Press and of whistleblowers? Where is the outrage from our elected parlimentarians, religous groups, popular personalities, judges, community leaders and non-govermental organisations?
Certain politicians appear to be losing sleep and seem to be more concerned of not “demolarising” the IGP than the continued abuse of helpless victims from abroad and locals in our police lock-ups. Are these leaders equally concerned about the victim’s image and demoralised feelings of women who have been humilated and demeaned? Where is the outcry and outrage from these so-called custodians. Perhaps they view it all as the “fault” or stigma of being women. I have found that over the years, there is a greater tendency to try and keep things secret by the authorities rather than to indulge in what should be a presumption of openness.
Transparency, anti-corruption, no cover-ups. Do these words sound familiar? From observing the events over the past week, including instructions to blackout Noh’s statements in the local Chinese media, I would say that concealment, corruption and cover-ups are still dominant.We Malaysians have esteemed the police force with our trust and it has on numerous occasions violated it. Are the police who are agents of the law above the law and scrunity? Or must they be honored even when there appear to be abuses of the rights of those they have sworn to protect?
As a Malaysian I am deeply disturbed about the message our authorities are sending to its citizens when some of its leaders seem to be zealous to defend as what appears to be unlawful practices by police officers.These are some of the questions that need to be addressed. It is the moment of truth; now is the time for transformation. I thank Prime Minister Abudullah Badawi for the independent investigation and pray that transparency will not be compromised in any manner. What happened is not surprising, but it must be recognised for what it is, a superficial symptom of a far deeper malaise. One can treat the puss spots of a person suffering from smallpox but it is not possible to cure or save him without looking for the root cause of the puss spots!
Many Malaysian women are asking if the police are truly their guardians or gamekeeper. It is an insult to them and Malaysians in general to claim that it is only a few black sheep in the force that is tarnishing the image of the force. Very often, black sheep or bad apples develop a contagion like the Avian bird-flu, complancency in detection and eradication can have irreparable consequences.
This mistreatment of a female detainee is viewed as an incident that has violated every Malaysian family. We have no right to claim that we are a caring society if we don’t see it in such a context. The nation is outraged and awaits to see justice done. I am convinced that this can be an opportunity, a turning-point in our nation, a time when history records that the people spoke out against the injustices and the leaders rose up to be men and women that demostrated integrity by doing what needed to be done. Practice justice, punish the lawbreakers and bullies in uniform and redeem the respect of the people who have put their faith in the police force.
Comment by AnakMalaysia — Tuesday, 06-12-2005 @ 01: 21.48