I was just trying to be a good MP
Friday, 13-01-2006
I was asked to go to the Police Headquarters (IPK) KL yesterday for my statement to be taken over the issue involving Wan Nurizan and her two daughters.
I was at first shocked to hear of the police request and I told the police officer who called me that there was no necessity to call me as everything I know was from her police report.
The officer then suggested that I mention exactly that in my statement.
I have my reservations over the process as I viewed it as a veiled threat by the police. I was just doing my job as a wakil rakyat in seeking justice for three women who were arrested and detained unlawfully and humiliated by the police, hence, what good is this statement?
Since the police called me twice that day, I felt obliged to go to IPK. I informed the media at noon of the said police request. I also asked Nurizan to come to IPK with me.
One of the question asked of me was why I called a press conference on the Nurizan case. I told the police officer that was because I found the arrest and detention of Nurizan and her daughters were unfair and unjust. I also said that when she lodged the complaint against the arrest made by the police, they referred her complain to the investigating officer who investigated her earlier.
After I came out of the one hour questioning, I was a shocked to see so many journalists gathered at the entrance of IPK. I was even more surprised to see the presence of TV3 and NTV7.
I told the media that I didn’t understand the reason why the police wanted my statement. This was the first time that I have been called to record a statement after holding a press conference on police abuse.
I asked Wan Nurizan to repeat her story to the media as many journalists there were not aware of her ordeal as aside from the alternative media, the Chinese press and Utusan, no newspaper carried the story.
After she explained the details of the issue, TV3 journalist asked her why did she sought my help. Nurizan replied that because I am the MP for her area.
The NTV7 journalist then asked me why I always take up police abuse cases. I told her my office is like a police station where all sorts of complaints are made and that I did not go looking for victims of police abuse but instead they came to me. If I don’t help them, I will be abdicating my responsibility as a wakil rakyat.
I somehow sensed the rather unfriendly tone from the questions asked by the press.
The question by the TV3 journalist to Nurizan carried clear racial connotations such as “since you are a Malay, why did you go for a Chinese MP and not a Malay MP?”
The question of the NTV7 journalist seemed to me like “why do you always find fault with the police?”
What bugs me is why these two journalists chose to see this issue from such a biased angle??? Why can’t a Malay seek the assistance of a Chinese and vice versa?
Can this prove that racism is complete in this country and we are just pretending? The TV3 journalist question to me is more disturbing and scary then what the police did. I now cannot know if my neigbour, or the person who sits next to me on the bus or in a restaurant hates me. I live in a virtual state of fear.
Comment by Bigjoe — Friday, 13-01-2006 @ 09: 36.39
The journalist statement is of no big surprise, why do we try to pretend, RACE is a big factor in Malaysia, one can make racial slurs in parliament openly and get away , Don’t forget the status of BUMIS is race based! Under the sun all people are the same , the blood that runs in our veins can save irrespective a Malay ,Chinese or Indian. We need to learn to treat all people in a repectfull way not judging by race. What you hear from the journalist is what has been sown by the years since Merdeka, and this is the fruit of it. Good on you Teresa keep up the good work, Maybe one day Malaysia can be truly multicultural. One has to always hope!
Comment by ravim — Friday, 13-01-2006 @ 11: 33.50
It is good to note that many of our Malay friends are looking up to Teresa for support and Wan Nurizan could not have put it any better then to say that Teresa was her wakil rakyat. Bravo. That should have shut them up. We must face up to the fact that we are dealing with pea-brained politicians, police and journalists. We must really excuse them for their lack of intelligence since it is our education system that has brought them up to what they are today.
Many years ago, I wonder how many of us remember the Kg Kerinchi incident where a young Malay boy was shot dead by the police. The kampung folks did not approach their wakil rakyat (UMNO) but instead approached Lee Lam Thye in Bkt Bintang to assist them in making a police report. The next day, the Malay Mail carried on the front page a banner pix of Lee Lam Thye leading the entire kampung to the police station to lodge that report. I wonder whether the police or the journalists did ask the kampung folks why they approached Lee Lam Thye and not the own wakil rakyat. The underlining factor is simple. It is the confidence level they have in both representatives, one higher than the other.
Comment by Billy — Friday, 13-01-2006 @ 12: 57.47
Well said Billy.
TV3 and NTV7 “reporter” who interviewed Teresa is really out of the norm. And was PLACED there to do the BN’s agenda. In any event both TV3 and NTV7 are wives of UMNO’s Prima Media. You would have to expect them to do their master’s bidding.
Comment by carboncopy — Friday, 13-01-2006 @ 18: 07.00
Looks like the TV3 and NTV7 reporters were trying to outdo each other in perpetuating racial bigotry! Probably they should be sent to do national service.
Comment by virgorat — Friday, 13-01-2006 @ 22: 44.27
After so many years of independence, everything is arranged according to racial lines. Newspapers and TV have great responsibility as they influence the opinion and way of thinking of its mass subscriber base.
From this episode, I doubt that they can be a prefect national unity forming tool. If China Press is deemed to have shamed Malaysia’s name, what about these people habouring an under-current of trying to “provoke a story/wrong comment” or “trying to get a misquote”? Surely the Ministry should at least enquire where the line of questioning were leading to? Journalists should try to report first and foremost. That 2 individuals seems to habour an opinion and try to get a misquote to substantiate their opinion. I hope they didn’t represnt the whole newsroom.
By the way, this actually make Teresa looks even more heroic…smart answers from a smart woman…..if I am qualified to date her on Valentine’s Day I would! (My wife would kill me so just forget it!)
Comment by lee wee tak_ — Monday, 16-01-2006 @ 08: 01.11
What can i say… what do journalist learn from the books and in the practical newsroom these days is still a mystery!
Comment by lwh — Saturday, 12-08-2006 @ 14: 49.19