Police investigations into a ‘shooting' remark by DAP state chairperson Ngeh Koo Ham took a twist today when Perak Pakatan Rakyat leader Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin chose to remain silent when police wanted to record his statement over the incident.

NONE Nizar (right) had been summoned to the Ipoh district police headquarters this morning as police believe that he was one of the witnesses to the remark allegedly made Ngeh. However, when asked for his statement, Nizar refused to say anything.

Speaking to reporters later outside the police headquarters, Nizar said he only answered personal questions relating to him and his family during the one-hour session.

"I want to cooperate with the police on the alleged incident but how can I do so when I do not have a copy of the police reports lodged against Ngeh to refresh my mind," he explained.

Last week, police served a notice on Ngeh, who is also Sitiawan assemblyperson, to give a statement over his allegedly seditious remark following five reports claimed to be lodged by members of the public.

Ngeh was reported to have said that 'Police would shoot anyone they dislike' during a press conference after the opening of the Perak state assembly sitting on March 30. He purportedly said this in protest of the presence of the many police personnel during the proceedings.

Ngeh turned up at the police headquarters on Monday but refused to say anything after he was denied copies of the police reports lodged against him saying that he was exercising his right to remain silent under Section 112 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Section 112 (2) states: ‘Such person shall be bound to answer all questions relating to the case put to him by that officer: Provided that such person may refuse to answer any question the answer to which would have a tendency to expose him to a criminal charge or penalty or forfeiture'.

‘Physical harassment'

Ngeh maintains that those accused in a police report are eligible to have a copy of it before they give their version of the incident.

This in contrast to state police chief Zulkifli Abdullah who has said previously that he thinks the person named in a police report is only allowed a copy of the report when he is charged in court.

V Sivakumar Nizar said he instead asked Ipoh CID chief Glenn Anthony, who was questioning him, on the outcome of the various police reports lodged by Pakatan leaders against BN politicians over the physical harassment of former Pakatan state assembly speaker V Sivakumar (left) during past assembly sittings.

According to Nizar, the CID chief said that they have forwarded the outcome of their investigations to the Attorney-General's Chambers and were waiting for further instructions.

Asked about Sivakumar's stand during his questioning by police last week, Nizar said the former speaker also took a similar stand in not answering questions without first receiving copies of the police reports lodged against Ngeh.