'We even criticise the PM': PAS rep defends questioning cops over crime stats

Summary

• Melor assemblyperson Wan Rohimi Wan Daud hits back at Kelantan Umno chief Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub’s challenge and tells him not to pit him against the police.

• This comes after Jazlan challenged Wan Rohimi to repeat his criticisms against the police outside the Kelantan legislative assembly.

• Wan Rohimi says the Kelantan police chief should be more disciplined about data.

A PAS lawmaker has returned fire at Kelantan Umno chief Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub over the latter’s challenge for the former to repeat his remarks against the police outside the Kelantan legislative assembly.

“I rebuked civil servants. Don’t tell us that we can’t do that when we don’t even spare the prime minister from criticism.

“To Jazlan, there is no need for him to meddle and pit me against the police,” Sinar Online reported Melor assemblyperson Wan Rohimi Wan Daud as saying today.

Earlier, Jazlan called Wan Rohimi (above) a coward and criticised him for insinuating that Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay and Kelantan police chief Yusoff Mamat were attempting to cast the state in a negative light.

“Wan Rohimi has acted recklessly and carelessly by accusing them of deliberately making negative remarks about Kelantan for the purpose of the upcoming by-election in Ayer Kuning on April 26.

“The Kelantan police chief, the DIGP, and the entire police force are civil servants bound by regulations and tasked with ensuring national security.

“Therefore, it is inappropriate to question the statements made by the police in relation to their duties in raising awareness and combating crime within society,” said Jazlan.

This was over Yusoff’s revelation on April 9 the number of rape and incest cases in Kelantan has increased but investigations showed that many were consensual sex.

Yusoff said 252 cases were reported in 2024 compared to 206 cases in 2023, an increase of 22.3 percent, and what is more worrying is that some of those involved were as young as 10 years old.

Defending his remarks, Wan Rohimi rebuffed Yusoff and claimed the latter did not provide evidence to back his statement.

“Civil servants should be more disciplined about data and not give statements without proof. It should have been more detailed,” he said, adding that the senior police officer’s remarks have created a negative perception of Kelantan.

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