Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said that ‘BN was always committed to making changes including for the people's well-being and comfort. The party had learnt its lesson from the 12 ^th general election in March in that it should listen to the people's voices and do what they hoped it should do.’

I would like to share a few examples to show that the above statement from Najib is nothing but shameless political rhetoric.

On Jan 5, five members from PKR's Youth Wing were arrested for putting up posters of murdered Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu. Police arrested them under the Sedition Act and the Printing Presses and Publications Act.

How did putting up the posters interfere with Sedition Act? The response from Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar was: ‘You can't breach the law. If they spread criminal defamation the police should take action. In a democratic system we should act with responsibility.’

On Jan 11, there was a series of flyers with cartoons attacking opposition de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim. One of the cartoons was titled Jauhi Diri Anda dari Mat Lebong and portrayed Anwar riding a double-headed donkey with faces of DAP leader Lim Kit Siang and PAS leader Abdul Hadi Awang.

Another cartoon titled ‘Welcome to PRK Permatang Pauh’ portrays Hadi Awang and PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat having a conversation on a street surrounded by Chinese road signs and signboards.

On Jan 12, a second round of flyers attacking the opposition leaders again appeared in Kuala Terengganu. One of the flyers titled Siapa Anwar? attacks Anwar on his first sodomised charge.\

Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Said later admitted that the flyers were coming from BN. My questions are: Where were the police? Shouldn’t whoever handling out the flyers be arrested under the Sedition Act and the Printing Presses and Publications Act?

Aren’t the claims of ‘Mat Lebong’, ‘Welcome to PRK Permatang Pauh’, and ‘Sodomised charge’ considered as criminal defamation too? Isn’t this an obviously irresponsible and double standard action taken by the police against the opposition parties?

On Jan 2, 300 people held a rally on the streets of Penang, condemning the air strikes from Israel against Palestine. Various actions such as kicking, shoeing, and burning the effigies of US president George W Bush and Israel PM Ehud Olmert took place. However there was no interruption from the 20 police who were present on the scene.

On the same day, an Umno Youth-led protest against Israel’s attack was attended by 200 people, marching to Palestinian embassy in Ampang. Again, the group was watched by two dozen policemen who did not take any action to stop the protest.

On Jan 9, about 5,000 protesters gathered near the US embassy in KL demonstrating against the on-going Israeli attack. The demonstration proceeded smoothly with no interruption from the police.

Meanwhile, about 200 people gathered at the Kampung Baru mosque to protest against the Israeli invasion. Some angry participants even burnt American and Israeli flags. No police personnel were on hand throughout the protest.

Surprisingly, on Jan 10, 21 out of about 200 attendants of an anti-war vigil at Dataran Merdeka were arrested. About 100 Light Strike Force personnel were present to control and disperse the crowd. The gathering was claimed as ‘illegal’ by the police.

Several questions for Malaysian police: Why were certain group of citizens not granted the freedom of holding a peaceful gathering? What’s the guideline for police to arrest? Were all the previous anti-US rallies legal? Was the burning of other nations’ flags justified under Malaysian laws?

Was it okay for a 5,000 people rally but not okay for a 200-people rally? Was action taken simply because the 200-people rally was not organized by any pro-BN organisation?

On Jan 10, PKR information chief Tian Chua told a press conference that the police had twice failed twice to issue the party with a permit to hold a ceramah . The reason given by the police was that ‘it was not a working day and the office was closed.’

‘Can you imagine, if you lost your identity card? Will they say ‘Today is Sunday and because it is a holiday, I’m not taking this report,’‘ Chua said.

‘Holiday.’ Isnn’t this the most ridiculous excuse you could find on earth? You are arrested for not applying for a permit. But then, you were refused a permit since it was a ‘holiday’.

There are endless disgraceful stories to share about the Malaysian police. We have seen numerous, insanely odd ways of how the police interrupted various gatherings, eg, the Bersih, Anti-ISA, Hindraf and Jerit (just to name a few) campaigns and arrested the participants. Tons of resources were utilized to capture the innocent public.

Enough is enough. The citizens desire a police system that delivers justice, not an incompetent one. The police should never forget whom they depend on for making a living.

Meanwhile, BN candidate Wan Ahmad Farid has proclaimed his support for the ISA. And Najib has announced that Wan Farid would re-appointed deputy home minister should he win the by-election.

That being said, if BN wins this time, then there will be no change to the Malaysian police force. Everything will stay the same. The voice of the public will continuously ignored by the government. BN will continue its arrogance with its various policies. What lies ahead will be the same old, dirty corrupted political system of the past 51 years.

Based on what has happened all these years, were it not for this by-election, BN would not be so kind in handing out the various goodies to Kuala Terenggau residents.

For a brighter future for all Malaysians and for a better reputation for the Malaysian police force, I urge the Kuala Terengganu voters to reject BN and vote for PAS.

Let’s put words into action, let’s fight for a reformed Malaysian police force, let’s help Malaysians by letting PKR take one step forward towards become the ruling coalition, let’s have a true ‘Malaysia Boleh!’

Lastly, a reply to Najib:

Based on what happened since March 2008, I have not seen BN’s commitment in ‘making changes including for the people's well-being and comfort.’

What I have seen is that BN hasn’t ‘learnt its lesson from the 12 ^th general election in March that it should listen to the people's voices and do what they hoped it should do.’