/file/attachments/orphans/New-Big-Picture-02112026-07_633987.jpg)
Shuhaily's case: Even the speaker can't simply slap people around, says PM
PARLIAMENT | Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said even the Dewan Rakyat speaker cannot simply slap other people, as an analogy that a person’s service and good character do not exempt them from legal process.
He said this in the Dewan Rakyat today when asked about Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA) director-general Shuhaily Zain’s case.
“But I cannot say that because the speaker is...
PARLIAMENT | Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said even the Dewan Rakyat speaker cannot simply slap other people, as an analogy that a person’s service and good character do not exempt them from legal process.
He said this in the Dewan Rakyat today when asked about Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA) director-general Shuhaily Zain’s case.
“But I cannot say that because the speaker is a good person, he can slap an officer.
“If the speaker slaps someone, I cannot guarantee that he can be spared from the legal process,” he said when replying to a question from Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau) during the Prime Minister’s question time.
He said the action against Shuhaily (above) began with a police report, and every report, from anyone, must be investigated.
/file/attachments/orphans/New-Big-Picture-03112026-03_840226.jpg "Anwar Ibrahim Parliament 03112026")
While acknowledging that he knows Shuhaily, sympathises with him personally, and is aware of his performance, he stressed that officers must work professionally and that any action that breaches the law must go through due process.
He also reminded the House that in 1998, a former inspector-general of police was jailed for hitting someone, in reference to the assault Anwar himself suffered while under police detention following his ouster as deputy prime minister.
READ MORE: 'I thought I wouldn't survive' – Anwar recalls 'black eye' incident
“Please do not ask me or the home minister (Saifuddin Nasution Ismail) to interfere to that extent,” he said, adding that the decision to prosecute lies with the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
Anwar also rejected the notion that the issue is controversial or politically motivated.
“If a civil servant is charged, procedures such as transfer or removal from post will be followed, and that is something the home minister can explain better.
“I want to stress this here because there have been attempts to confuse the matter,” he said.
Return to police force
On Oct 21, Shuhaily pleaded not guilty at the Sepang Magistrate’s Court to two counts of causing hurt to two police officers at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1 on Sept 28.
The case arose after CCTV footage of the incident went viral.
The MCBA confirmed the footage was genuine, saying that the incident occurred while Shuhaily was inspecting the agency’s operations ahead of the arrival of delegations for the Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix in Sepang.
The two police officers lodged separate police reports on Sept 29 and 30, and Shuhaily also lodged a police report.
On Oct 29, Saifuddin said his ministry had decided to return Shuhaily, who was seconded to the MCBA, to the police force.
/file/attachments/orphans/SaifuddinNasutionIsmail1_122063.png "Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail circa October 2026 141026")
A day later, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail said Shuhaily would certainly return to the police force.
However, his new posting has not been decided, and police are still awaiting advice from the Attorney-General’s Chambers before sending a letter to seek the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s consent.
Despite this, Shuhaily returned to the MCBA after a week’s leave and chaired an agency meeting yesterday.
/file/publisher-c1a3f893382d2b2f8a9aa22a654d9c97/2026/02/cf0667319e5a2e446ce8e866bd734b5f.jpg)
/file/publisher-c1a3f893382d2b2f8a9aa22a654d9c97/2026/02/b4b4cbd3a28ed3e5786b58d15d85133e.jpg)
/file/attachments/orphans/43543435435453_860836.png)
This PMX government is so contradictory and hypocritical. Remember after the incident in December 2022, the former Public Service Department (JPA) Director-General Datuk Seri Mohd Shafiq Abdullah had his services terminated because he had reprimanded some immigration officers at KLIA! He was tipped to be the next Chief Secretary of Malaysia but finally became a victim of internal politics within the civil service. So why now treat Suhaily who physically assaulted public officers now as a hero?
Then may i ask why has Noorizwan ended up death in a police cell? Case after case, and to think that you would have the similar experience of such brutality and inhumane treatment, this would be your first reform action! But no….it is a triviality once one has the power.
The case have gone to court and many who have seen the video would not called it slapping but did not said it in press conferences or public forum.Let the process reveal itself in court.Mr.Madani, as usual, must always rush in and comment on court cases and imply which decision the court should take.By using the Speaker as an analogy, he is basically implying that he believed Suhaily slapped the 2 guys and this seemed to be interfering with the judicial process.How many times does he want to do that? Please focus on your dual ministries, it seemed like he has a lot of free times, besides overseas travels .
Report this comment
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.