Opposition leader Fadzil Noor today criticised the police for ignoring his appeal to meet with Inspector-General of Police Norian Mai over the ban on ceramah (public talks) and the violence which erupted during such talks.

Fadzil told Parliament he had written letters and requested to meet Norian twice but never received a reply.

The veteran politician took the police chief and his department to task for their inefficiency despite having a large number of staff and being technologically advanced.

There is no respect for me, not as Fadzil Noor, but as an opposition leader appointed by Parliament, he said when debating Mondays royal address by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

He (Norian) has assistants and secretaries to help him but why cant they respond to our requests or letters, he added.

At this juncture, a Barisan Nasional MP interjected and asked Fadzil why he had not approached Norian when the police chief attended the opening of this years first Parliament session on Monday.

Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Annuar (BN-Larut) also criticised the PAS leader for raising the issue now and accused PAS of seeking cheap publicity.

Fadzil then had the House in stitches when he replied meeting the IGP was not like meeting a Mamak Pasembor (Peddler of a popular local dish).

He (Norian) has assistants and secretaries. We cant meet him as we like, he said.

Security threat

Fadzil also complained that the police via its special branch was only interested in monitoring PAS and Barisan Alternatif ceramah , claiming the talks are threats to national security.

Therefore they (police) are quick to move in with Federal Reserve Unit officers and tear gas, as if ceramah by religious teachers are the only ones which must be restricted, he said.

Fadzil added the police hunted tok gurus (religious teachers), PAS leaders and speakers and treat them as if they are threats to peace and people who cause division within the society.

They are also hunted like they criminals, our ulama are detained and denigrated, our state assembly representative were handcuffed and these incidences occurred in Kedah, Johor, Selangor and other states, he said.

Last month, PAS came under fire when its supporters were alleged to have become unruly and torched a police truck during a ceramah in Kedah.

This prompted the government to announce that it will no longer allow any ceramah without a police permit.