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Police now a law unto themselves?
Published:  Jan 26, 2010 7:38 AM
Updated: 11:56 PM

vox populi small thumbnail 'When did the police get the powers to interpret Articles 5 and 10 of our Federal Constitution on personal liberty and freedom of speech and expression?'

Police put a halt to Anwar's speech

Tan Kian Khim: What? No tear gas and water cannon? Only 30 cops? Come now, PDRM (Royal Malaysian Police Force), you are failing to meet your key performance indicators when it comes to storming peaceful civil assemblies, dragging away unarmed university students and abetting in illegal power grabs.

Usually the PDRM has no problem deploying hundreds or even thousands of cops to harass civil assemblies. The real Malaysian criminals must be very fond of our police force...

Bosco Philip Anthony: When did the police get the powers to interpret Articles 5 and 10 of our Federal Constitution on personal liberty and freedom of speech and expression? Are the police now a law unto themselves? When did we progress into a police state? Who pays their salaries, we wonder.

CK: These police are not doing what they should be doing. Why are they causing trouble? Why are they disturbing the opposition? Why are they creating fear among people? Why are they disrupting peaceful functions? Why the double standards? If it was a Barisan Nasional function, the police would behave. You've lost all credibility!

Argonist: Isn't this predictable? Now the police are the judge. Such draconianism should not go unchallenged by PKR. Make a police report about it. Don't mind if no action is taken.

One day, when PKR is in power, action will be taken on all the reports made over the years by PKR as well as cases of individuals being harassed and criminally tortured by the police.

Jefferson76: Every time they stop Anwar from speaking, people's curiosity just gets heightened even further. People will want to know what it is the government doesn't want them to hear. The crowds will just get bigger and bigger.

Arul Inthirarajah: There seem to be a surplus of police officers to harrass opposition politicians, but there are none to protect places of worship from arsonists.

Loh Chee Keat: My fellow Malaysians, it's simple. Whoever pays me is my boss.

Khalid Ibrahim's enemy within

Brij Jayaram Kathiravelu: It's clear that Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim is a seasoned politician and knows how Umno does things to gain support. Throughout Khalid's tenure as MB, he has not easily been moved by disgruntled members, such as S.Manikavasagam, Azmin Ali, etc. He is on the right track. I urge PKR to back him all the way.

One cannot make all party members happy, but one does have to keep the voters happy.

Wira: I hope Khalid will hold fast to his integrity. He shouldn't extend favours to gain people's patronage but as part of one's commitment in serving the rakyat. Let those who are a disgrace to the people who voted them into power jump ship to a corrupt Umno.

SusahKes: It would appear that Khalid wants to stay away from doing business the old Umno way. If that means having to lose the support of those who still have the Umno DNA inside them, then so be it. Trust me: those guys who resigned will no longer be a news item next week.

Ghkok: Everyone wants something in return for their loyalty and support. That kind of culture has seeped deep into Malaysian society. It's an illness that needs time to cure. The mindset needs to change.

Yes, the ‘reformasi' soldiers have every right to be recognised, to be held up as heroes for working hard to secure victory. But this is hollow victory. Real victory comes from a widespread change in mindset.

Khalid did the right thing. Let the disgruntled go without recrimination. The party can rebuild from their ashes with new people giving it life.

MB vs MB: Decision set for Feb 9

Doc: There is no need to wait for the Federal Court's decision on the outcome. I'm sure Umno will muster all their cronies on the bench to ensure Barisan Nasional and their Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir wins the case. Justice died a long time ago in Malaysia at the hands of Umno.

Yuvan: Justice delayed is justice denied. Whatever decision the Federal Court is going to make, it should have been made without delay. This case is of national importance and involves the constitution. It should have been given the importance and urgency that it required.

Now, even if the court decides in favour of Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin, he has been denied his rights and privileges as the duly-appointed Perak MB for an unduly long period.

Cala: Somehow I have the hunch that the Federal Court will return a verdict in Nizar's favour. The law, as I see it, is an art of common sense. To do otherwise will be taxing on the five learned men on how the law should be interpreted other than by common sense.

I remember reading ex-judge NH Chan's commentary on the case in this forum. To him, the case is as clear as a glass of mineral water you hold in your hand. Nizar should be the MB of Perak.

In a democratic country where the very existence of the government is for the people, by the people and for the people, the law is written for ordinary people like you and me. Ordinary people's interest comes first before all else.

Judgments from the land's highest court is expected to defend the interest of ordinary people, not the interest of the ruling coalition. It's the latter who are our servants.


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