The announcement that four government agencies are simultaneously investigating claims of Israeli infiltration into the country’s police headquarters suggests lack of seriousness about the possible breach of national security, said DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang.

dap 2010 budget rocket cafe 071009 lim kit siang 01 For such a matter to be addressed and tackled effectively, a royal commission of inquiry must be set up consisting of “respected, eminent and independent” Malaysians, said the veteran opposition politician.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein yesterday announced the involvement of the Royal Malaysian Police Force (RMP), the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the National Security Council and a parliamentary select committee to investigate claims that a company had allowed Israeli military intelligence agents to infiltrate the communications server room of the national police headquarters in Bukit Aman in Kuala Lumpur.

Lim, who is Ipoh Timor MP, said Hishammuddin’s statement was “downright ridiculous” and had made a mockery of Malaysia in the eyes of the rest of the world.

“I just could not believe that Hishammuddin could make such an outrageous announcement, totally lacking in seriousness about a very important national security problem,” he said.

anwar ibrahim black eye small 080206 Citing the police probe into the assault on former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim 12 years ago, Lim noted that it was only after a royal commission of inquiry delved into the matter did the truth emerge, he said.

“In the first place, who would believe that the police would be able to independently and professionally investigate into this matter, when there appears to be a tradition of lack of police independence and professionalism on sensitive issues involving the highest reaches of police and the government?”

The same judgement applies to the MACC and the National Security Council mentioned by Hishammuddin, said Lim.

As for the special parliamentary select committee, Lim asked whether the government would be willing to appoint an opposition parliamentarian to head it and order all government bodies, including the police, to open all its books to the probe.

If the cabinet had indeed approved for the four simultaneous and parallel investigations by four agencies into the case, then “it must stand as the most cock-eyed cabinet decision in the 53 years of the nation’s history” said Lim.

“Why are there more and more ridiculous and outrageous happenings under the Najib (Abdul Razak’s) premiership, which had never happened or would have been completely unthinkable under the five previous prime ministers,” said Lim.