'Don't abuse Penal Code to protect police image'
The poor public perception of the conduct of police cannot be addressed by abusing power and arresting people for frivolous matters, says Lawyers for Liberty.
Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) today blasted the police for “misusing” the Penal Code to punish its critics.
Commenting on the recent spate of arrests, LFL executive director Eric Paulsen said this was a serious abuse because the provisions were never meant to protect the police from public criticism or insult.
“Although the inspector-general of police (Khalid Abu Bakar) may deny, it is hard to dispute the poor public perception of the police force,” Paulsen ( left ) said in a statement today.
“Needless to say, this public perception cannot be improved by further abuse of power and arrests for frivolous matters to safeguard the image of the police.”
Paulsen reminded the top cop that respect for the police force does not come from fear but from public confidence.
Police have to be professional, impartial
“This, in turn, depends wholly on their (police) own conduct and integrity,” he said, stressing that the police should not abuse their powers to protect their image.
Calling on the force to be professional and impartial, he said they should instead be “detecting real crimes and apprehending real criminals”.
“They should not be concerned with frivolous matters like defamation, insult and annoyance against the police,” Paulsen said.
The cases referred to by LFL include the charge against PKR’s Batu MP Tian Chua for insulting the modesty of police officers.
Tian was charged under Section 509 of the Penal Code with uttering swear words at police personnel led by DSP Glenn A Sinappah, who seized his handphone.
Last month, a man who allegedly referred to a few policemen in a Facebook post as “monkeys looking for extra income”, was arrested at his home at midnight and remanded for three days.
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