YOURSAY 'Why insist on Hanif to head the panel? That's because there's no one else whom PDRM trust to ensure the findings will be in their favour.'

Check my track record first, Hanif tells critics

Raja Chulan: Prime Minister Najib Razak's hands are tied. The police are dead set against any form of investigation on their conduct.

Remember how an RCI (royal commission of inquiry) had recommended the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), but it was shot down the last time?

The PDRM (Royal Malaysian Police) doesn't really subscribe to democratic principles, including accountability of any sort when it comes to themselves.

This is not only during the Bersih 3.0 rally, but see how some of them behave when generally facing the public?

Najib is caught between this PDRM behaviour and the demands of the rakyat, so as a compromise to placate the PDRM, he establishes the panel but with an ex-IGP (inspector-general of police) - one of the police's own people - as its head.

Get it? Najib thinks he is very clever. Najib however needs to be reminded that half-measures in everything he does is not going to solve the problem.

Not Convinced: I agree with Raja Chulan that the police appear to be calling the shots in the Bersih 3.0 probe.

Otherwise, why insist on Hanif Omar to head the panel? That's because there's no one else whom PDRM trust to ensure that the findings will be in their favour.

Hanif is the only ex-IGP who is relatively untainted when compared to his successors - Abdul Rahim Noor, Norian Mai and Musa Hassan.

Vgeorgemy: Hanif, you are a liar and disgrace. You must submit evidence to support your claim of communist infiltration in the Bersih rally.

If not, you alone will bear the consequence of accepting the appointment. We demand an immediate dissolution of the investigation panel.

Vijay47 : Since you seem to be suffering the same failing memory as has beset former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad, let me remind you, Hanif, of some of the salient issues in respect of the inquiry on the Aminulrasyid Amzah death that you cite as part of your ‘track record'.

First, prior to that appointment, you had not offered an opinion one way or the other on the matter.

Secondly, that panel was to examine the killing of an individual, albeit a child. It was not a scandal where almost the entire police force ran amok.

Thirdly, those to whom you are beholden to, like Najib, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, Mahathir, and Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali amongst others, did not come out in savage defence of the police in that case.

You could safely judge one police officer to be wrong and still retain some credibility to exploit on similar occasions such as the Bersih 3.0 panel.

Are you suggesting that when perched on the bench, you will miraculously assume a new-found balance to your earlier bias and in fact open condemnation of Bersih?

Ksn: Hanif, maybe, just maybe you may have a good track record, but you disqualified yourself by saying that Bersih is communist tainted.

To keep your track record intact, you must reject the offer of both chairperson and even as a committee member of the panel.

Anonymous #62211637; Hanif, once you make a judgement outside of an inquiry, you are already in conflict of interest if you head the new panel on Bersih.

RR: For the sake of 'maintaining' his track record, Hanif should withdraw himself from the panel as he is already biased against Bersih 3.0. If he continues, the rakyat will not accept the findings of the panel.

Tan Teng Wah: Even a man having impeccable record in the past could not use it to negate or mitigate any present wrongdoing.

A simple example - when a shoplifter is caught red-handed, he cannot just show his string of credit cards to prove he does not need to steal because he could well afford to purchase whatever he wants.

Be Fair: Hanif, how come you did not mention anything about what you have said concerning communist elements in Bersih and its alleged aim to topple the government?

Any person with a rational mind would think that the person who said all these could not be seen to be fair and creditable being the panel head to investigate the violence at Bersih 3.0.

It's beyond belief that you don't see this rationale.

Anonymous_05: About 35 years ago, I looked upon Hanif with very high regard but that was 35 years ago...

There is no need to check any track record. The panel needs somebody else to head it.

Hanif, it's about impartiality, not track record

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now .