YOURSAY ‘He did not - I repeat, did not - say IGP was Umno’s ‘barua’.’
Cops give Azmin a week to say sorry, or else
Commentable: Is one man getting the whole force to seek an apology to heal a badly wounded ego before it goes gangrene?
I am inclined to agree to anyone who suggests that this wounded ego was self-inflicted. That's because the issue was framed as a question, one that asked "are you somebody's ‘barua’?"
Like any other questions such as "are you stupid?", the person asked may have several ways in choosing to deal with this problem:
1) he may choose not to respond and walk away without taking any offence;
2) he may dismiss the question with a simple "no";
3) he may answer with an affirmative "yes" with a "so what" as a parting shot; or
4) take the extremely low and ungentlemanly way of asking fellow colleagues cum subordinates to muscle in with a solution to resuscitate his frail ego.
But looking at the bigger picture, the tax-paying public should stand up and make it known loud and clear that the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) must not waste taxpayers’ money and time on this sort of childishly trivial issue.
Odin: Penang police chief Abdul Rahim Hanafi, if I am not mistaken, Selangor MB Azmin Ali asked if your Chief Twitter Lance-Corporal General Khalid Abu Bakar was a ‘barua’ (lackey) of Umno.
Azmin Ali did not - I repeat, did not - say that Khalid was one. Can you get that into your thick skull?
I am not a lawyer, but I'd think that even if Azmin did say that Khalid was a ‘barua’ of Umno, you have no ground to charge him.
Cantabrigian: Azmin was just asking a question and you have yet to answer, but now you want to take action against him. How low can you go, Mr IGP?
Please be ashamed of yourself. You are a disgrace to your profession. Malaysia never had such an incompetent chief police like you before.
Lukesky: I say that Azmin should just stand his ground here against the PDRM bullies. After all, when did asking a question become illegal?
If the IGP is somehow offended, he can file a defamation suit, although I’m not sure if either making a criminal or civil case out of this is going to increase the already low popularity of BN/Umno/PDRM in this case.
If anything, it’s probably only going to further highlight the bias nature of the law enforcement institutions in Malaysia and how they continue play subservient to Umno.
Sirach: If Azmin stands his ground, his standing in the eyes of most Malaysians is bound to soar. His criticism of the IGP was based on the double standards exhibited by PDRM.
Pahatian: Going by the same logic, if the IGP is convicted of corruption, then the whole police force is also corrupted or he is found to commit a serious crime then the whole police force is also guilty of the crime. Amazing.
Fair Play: Here are some questions for PDRM. Can PDRM issue a threat or any form of intimidation? Are they a law unto themselves? Are they not public servants who are subject to public scrutiny?
Nb: Indeed, intimidating the MB of Selangor is an act of disrespect to the Selangor sultan and the people of Selangor. Abdul Rahim should immediately retract his statement.
Ericlcc: Who is IGP? Isn't he a civil servant appointed by law to be the number one law enforcer? Is the office of a senior civil servant beyond reproach and criticism?
If the holder of the office feels he has been defamed or insulted, then he should sue in civil court. Why use the might of a huge public institution to intimidate one person into submission?
Astounded: It’s just goes to confirm how unprofessional our police force is. What a shame to the country. How childish!
The whole PDRM should be revamped and staffed with top calibre professionals. Only then we will see results, which include a well-respected police force with integrity and impartiality unlike the current crop, which is perceived to be a lackey to Umno and with good reason.
Looliloo: Sometime back, Court of Appeal judge Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus ruled that calling a person “stupid and recalcitrant”, although it was not nice to use such words, did not amount to defamation.
Likewise, calling the IGP an Umno ‘barua’ may not be nice, nevertheless it does not constitute defamation nor is it demeaning.
The IGP should be brave enough to stand in front of his mirror (in his full police uniform), hand on his heart and ask himself honestly if there was any truth in what was said by the Selangor MB.
Do some intense soul-searching, IGP (and that includes the rest of your boys in blue). The answer will be staring back right at you.
Peter Kandiah: The statements and demands of the police are without any basis in law. Sad to state, if the press reports on the police's statements and demands are accurate, I can only conclude that the police, including the IGP, are actually lackeys of BN and/or Umno.
If needed, I can be reached at 019-6672000.
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