Police should adopt fast investigating procedures and complete their investigations within 24 hours to end the need to arrest anyone - particularly opposition members and activists - and remand them for days, PKR Youth says.

In this respect, the standard operating procedures (SOP) of the force under the Inspector-General’s Standing Orders (IGSO) should immediately be changed to allow for these procedures, PKR Youth deputy chief Fahmi Fadzil said yesterday.

Fahmi said this in reference to a statement by Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on police investigations against Umno minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and former Umno deputy minister Mashitah Ibrahim.

Zahid said Ismail Sabri and Mashitah were not arrested because investigations into their respective inflammatory remarks were completed, by telephone, within 24 hours of police reports being lodged against them.

Fahmi ( right ) said a change in the SOP would enable a more efficient investigation process to be identified, and this could include telephone interviews. “Also, the investigating officer (IO) can be ready at the police station to conduct the investigation swiftly,” he added.

Citing cases involving Pakatan Rakyat leaders and activists, Fahmi said these cases almost always involved arrests and remand orders, with investigations not being conducted promptly.

“Those arrested had to wait for hours for the IO to arrive or for the IO to begin investigations,” he said.

Lower costs, less time

PKR vice-presidents Nurul Izzah Anwar and Tian Chua, among others, were the latest to be arrested for sedition and the Kita Lawan rallies respectively.

Touching on the current investigation process, which he said was time-consuming and costly, Fahmi opined this was due to the number of police officers involved in making one simple arrest and the food and facilities needed for those arrested or remanded.

“I recommend that Zahid orders the IGP to stop the arrests, especially those connected to politics and the rakyat. This would help in terms of easing the costs that have to be borne.”

He said the government had to realise that the rakyat could see the blatant differences in the way the authorities handled BN leaders and activists against those from Pakatan.

“Therefore, I hope Zahid will take my suggestions seriously, for the common good,” Fahmi added.