Nurul’s detention a clear act of intimidation

comments     Yoursay     Published     Updated

YOURSAY ‘Was it necessary to keep her in the police lock-up overnight?’

Lawyer: IGP lied about Nurul Izzah's remand

Pemerhati: This episode highlights the fact that the police have the powers to get hold of any innocent person and punish that person by detaining that person in the lock-up for the night on the pretext of taking a statement.

 

In view of the fact that the police are notorious for lying (for example, the way inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar lied blatantly in the Aminulrasyid Amzah shooting case) and charging people on trumped-up charges (for example, Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy case) these powers of the police to put anyone in a cell overnight should be severely curbed by putting strict safeguards to prevent the type of abuse carried out in Nurul Izzah’s case.

 

There should also be some severe penalties imposed on those who maliciously detain people to deter the police from acting in such a nasty manner. 

 

Hang Babeuf: The IGP's assurance that Nurul Izzah would be released as soon as her statement was recorded (and why could it not be recorded the day before when they “took her in”?) is an admission by the police chief that the whole exercise is being conducted in bad faith - just a pretext to hold her, in an effort to intimidate her and others.

 

And the bad faith is doubled when one sees that the Sedition Act is being employed in the current cases to hold people, in conjunction with the Public Assembly Act: as a back-up and fudge made necessary by the fact that the clauses of the Public Assembly Act under which people are being taken in, held and intimidated have been declared invalid by the Court of Appeal.

 

Sure, the IGP and whoever is with him do not like or accept that judgment. But until it is overturned, it is the law.

 

The IGP and his allies wish to have it appealed to and overturned by the Federal Court. But to act as they are now doing, on the assumption or expectation that the Federal Court will act as they wish it to do is to substitute their own view for the court’s.

 

It is an act of legal pre-emption, of judicial presumption and usurpation. It is an act of contempt and disrespect against that court, the judiciary and the rule of law by the IGP and his political masters.

 

So who, I ask, is acting these days in defiant contempt of the Federal Court and judiciary?

 

Asitis: Exactly. Nurul Izzah was at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters by 11:15am the next day and released at 12:20pm after her statements was recorded. It took the police only a little more than an hour to record her statements.

 

Was it necessary then to keep her in police lock-up overnight? Could they not have finish with the business of recording her statements the day before? There is clearly an element of intimidation here on the part of the police force.

 

Anonymous #37634848: The action is to let Nurul taste the jail and be frightened. It is being done to all other bright young and future leaders. What a stupid strategy.

 

Kangkung: When one works with a regime which thrives on lies, what do you expect the head of police would do?

 

With the incarceration of Nurul Izzah, Najib hopes it will shift attention on the ongoing scandals involving him and frighten all those in the Kita Lawan movement.

 

Hmmmmmmmm: The IGP (or any other heads of departments) may not realise this, but the system that they are perpetuating now may very well affect themselves or their loved ones when they are no longer in service.

 

So they better make some improvements to their departments when they still have the power.

 

 

Pua: I deleted tweet since IGP didn't understand

Rojak: I wonder what on basis the IGP could haul someone into a police station to explain something to him that he doesn't understand?

 

I thought it was incumbent upon an accuser to produce evidence against an accused. If the IGP cannot understand an English expression but suspects it has something to do with the monarchy (even though millions know perfectly well that it does not), then isn't it up to the IGP to do his research first and only make accusations if he comes up with something concrete?

                       

Magnus: The way I see it, Petaling Jaya Utara Tony Pua's expressions outside of Parliament comes under his democratic right to free speech/freedom of expression as enshrined in Article 10. Fair comment normally acts as a valid defence in any action for defamation in such cases.

 

The IGP may be drawing attention to the fact that there may be some existing law that now prevents discussion of the Malay rulers, and anyone’s special privileges, etc.

 

If so, then anything said on those relevant matters outside of Parliament may risk question or arrest by the police since the police have to enforce all laws passed in/by Parliament, equally and consistently, since everyone is equal before the law of the land.

 

But an MP's right to immunity for his/her privilege to unfettered free speech in Parliament, delivered with the required decorum/conduct (i.e. with enough civility to convey the point across without making the houses of parliament into cacophonic and unruly animal farms) comes under the principle of parliamentary supremacy.

 

That is why the electorate elects MPs to their parliament so MPs can speak up without fear or favour on behalf of their electorates on any matter that is relevant to them or to any constituent therein.

 

The democratic contract and locus standi is between the voter and elected MP and not between the voter and the political party that MP is affiliated to.

 

David: How much respect can you give to an IGP who goes to the extent of bullying and harassing a blogger (Alvin Tan) who challenged his ego?

 

If ever there is a change in federal government, this man will be the first to be fired. By the way, Mr IGP, fired here literally means "di pecat" and not "firing a gun at you", in case you do not understand English.


The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now .

These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.



Malaysiakini
news and views that matter


Sign In