Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has cautioned Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi against protecting rogue policemen.

Responding to the shooting of whistleblower R Sri Sanjeevan, he criticised the minister over his knee-jerk dismissal of speculation that policemen were behind the murder attempt.

"My advise to Zahid is to allow the police to conduct a thorough investigation first. You can't assume, without the facts of investigation... this is the problem with Umno leaders," Anwar said.

NONE "As a good minister, you have to defend your staff first... I think in that spirit, I would accept (Zahid's stand). But he should not use that reason to protect the rogues," he added.

Anwar said Sanjeevan had rattled some bad hats in the force and their involvement in the shooting could not be dismissed without an exhaustive investigation.

 "I am not saying the entire police is tainted," he added, pledging support for Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar’s assurance of a thorough investigation.

However, the opposition leader reminded the police chief that the probe must leave no stone unturned.

'This is ridiculous'

Meanwhile, Anwar also lambasted the police for stating that Sanjeevan had not lodged a police report on to the threats he received.

NONE Describing it as "ridiculous", he said: "It involves an assassination attempt, we have evidence of earlier tweets, (which were sent) few hours earlier (before he was shot)... there was no time to lodge a report."

"Still, it is a report to the public, you must act on it. If somebody says: 'I am going to shoot you tomorrow' and (the police) do not act until a police report is lodged, this is ridiculous," he added.

Anwar also  commended Sanjeevan for his boldness in exposing the nefarious dealings between the criminal underworld and certain rogue elements in the police force.

"This is a matter of national importance. We believe the shooting in broad daylight is not an isolated event done by some stray criminals.

"As stated by former IGP (and patron of MyWatch) Musa Hassan, it  may be part of a much larger, more insidious criminal network with the motive of silencing Sanjeevan," he added.

Sanjeevan, who spearheads MyWatch, was shot in Bahau two days ago. He is currently undergoing intensive treatment.

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