A slighted DAP stalwart today posed a rather difficult question to Musa Hassan a day after the police chief urged politicians not to be role models for criminals.

mahatma gandhi writing 021204 Lim Kit Siang has demanded to know if the inspector-general of police lumps Mahatma Gandhi in the same category.

"Does Musa regard Gandhi has having spent his whole life to be a role model for criminals...?

"And if not, he should withdraw his offensive remark and apologise to all responsible and principled politicians in the country," said the veteran parliamentarian in a posting on his blog.

Yesterday, Musa reportedly said that politicians should be helping to build a better society instead of destroying it.

"If politicians do not respect the law, then criminals would do the same," he added.

'The third reason'

musa hassan pc 021107 think Citing this as the 'third reason why Musa is not fit to be IGP for another day', Lim said: "I do not know about other politicians but I feel deeply offended by his smug and conceited statement for two reasons."

The first, he said, is that responsible and principled politicians never hold themselves as models for criminals.

"When we break the law or are held to have broken the law, it is not for any self-gain or profit like robbing public coffers or private wealth," he added.

Secondly, he said, it is very clear from Musa's statement that he has not understood or accepted the thrust of the Royal Police Commission report – to 'make compliance with prescribed laws and human rights one of the three top priorities for PDRM'.

According to Lim, Musa has either forgotten or ignored the Royal Police Commission's call for 'a fundamental transformation in the character of policing in Malaysia from one that is too easily persuaded to seek recourse in extraordinary emergency laws and giving itself as much space (such as through long remand periods), to one that is sensitive and respectful of the rights of individuals'.

'Time for a new IGP'

lim kit siang dap pc 130208 serious "When Musa cannot see the fundamental difference between politicians who are trying to mainstream human rights to create a better Malaysia from big-time criminals, it is time that Malaysia has a new inspector-general of police who can provide the leadership to create an efficient, incorruptible, human rights-sensitive, professional world-class police service which can be the pride of all Malaysians," he said.

Yesterday, Lim gave two reasons in Parliament when moving a censure RM10 salary-cut motion against Musa on why he is not fit to continue as the top police officer in the country for another day.

The two reasons cited were:

1) For (allegedly) being more of a lobbyist for police mega-deals instead of being the police leader to keep crime down and the country safe for Malaysians, tourists and investors; and

2) Telling Malaysians that they had been living "a great lie" in the past five years under the Abdullah Ahmad Badawi premiership by succumbing to the new police line that the real problem is not worsening crime situation or a misperception.

Police permits

Meanwhile, fellow DAP stalwart Karpal Singh said the police chief's attack against politicians for holding illegal demonstrations did not take into account the necessity of the police to be liberal in issuing permits.

karpal singh 201108 "The restriction placed on the right to freedom of assembly under section 27 of the Police Act, although lawful, should not be strictly enforced by the police as long as the assembly is a peaceful one.

"In Malaysia, there is no doubt that there is discrimination when it comes to obtaining permits, on the part of the opposition," he said in a statement.

Karpal noted that when a peaceful assembly is declared illegal, it will lead to pent-up emotions being expressed in negative ways.

"This should be avoided at all costs. The home minister should direct the police not to insist on police permits for assemblies," he added.

However, Karpal welcomed Musa's warning to the Gerakan Reformis Rakyat Malaysia (Reformis) that action would be taken if it goes ahead with the proposed 'nude protest' against the Selangor government.

"The setting up by Reformis of a skuad berani bogel (nude squad) is mind boggling. This is the first time in the country's history that such culture has reared its ugly head.

"It is imperative that such a move be nipped in the bud," he added.