Media Conference Statement (2)
by Lim Kit Siang in Parliament on Wednesday, 19th
November 2008 at 11 am:
Challenge to Hamid Albar to a public debate
to be elecast live as to whether the crime situation in Malaysia is
getting better or worse
I regret that instead of responding
positively and responsibly to my criticisms about the worsening crime
situation in the country, the Home Minister Datuk
Seri Syed Hamid Albar has launched a campaign to demonise me as an enemy
of the police as illustrated by the following newspaper headlines today:
“’Usah gemar perlekah pasukan keselamatan’ – Syed Hamid bidas sikap
pemimpin parti pembangkang” – Berita Harian
“Syed Hamid bidas Kit Siang perlekeh polis” – Sinar Harian
“Jangan perlekeh credibility pasukan keselamatanh” – Utusan Malaysia
In my 42 years in politics as a MP and DAP leader, I have never treated
or regarded the police as an enemy as the police officers and personnel
perform an unenviable but important and critical function to keep the
country safe and secure for socio-economic and political progress and to
be able to attract tourists and investors to maintain Malaysia’s
competitiveness.
While I had never shirked from my responsibility to criticize faults or
failures of the Police (and this applies to the Cabinet and the entire
public service), I have never begrudged in giving full support to
ensuring that the police force get proper and adequate recognition in
terms of pay increases, equitable remuneration and improvements in their
working conditions.
Is Hamid to be believed that after serving my eighth term as Member of
Parliament, this being my 34th year in Parliament, I have suddenly
decided to become an enemy of the police by running down the police
force, as alleged by Hamid?
Of course not, and I do not think that the police officers and personnel
are so uninformed that they can be easily misled by Hamid’s baseless
allegations to distract attention from the brunt of my criticisms – the
worsening crime situation in the country and his failure since becoming
Home Minister in the past eight months to take bold measures to
implement the Royal Police Commission’s recommendations to create an
efficient, incorruptible, professional world-class police service to
keep crime low and restore to Malaysians, tourists and visitors their
fundamental right to be free from crime and the fear of crime.
Police personnel are also citizens of Malaysia and in their civilian
life or after retirement, they and their loved ones have often fallen
victim to endemic crime in the country. Even former Inspector-Generals
of Police and top police officers had not been spared from becoming
victims of such endemic crime in the country.
I am shocked that the Deputy Home Minister, Datuk Chor Chee Heung could
say in the Parliament lobby on Monday that the worsening crime situation
in the country is a “misperception” of the people – a contemptuous
dismissal of the daily nightmare of Malaysians about their personal
safety and those of their loved one!
With the country becoming increasingly unsafe instead of being safer,
whether in the streets, public places or the privacy of homes, a person
who could dismiss the widespread fear of Malaysians, tourists and
investors about the worsening crime situation in the country is not fit
to be in any position of responsibility in fighting crime – let alone as
Deputy Home Minister.
If Hamid is a responsible and upright Home Minister, he would have asked
for the sacking of Chor as Deputy Home Minister for such insensitive and
irresponsible talk.
But Hamid will not do such a thing, as he not only condones Chor in such
irresponsible talk, he is probably in full agreement with Chor.
I call on Hamid to stop his irresponsible PR ploy to paint me as Enemy
No. 1 of the Police, when what I want is to see police reforms where the
Police could be regarded and accepted by all Malaysians as their No. 1
Public Friend.
I challenge Hamid Albar to a public debate to be telecast live as to
whether the crime situation in Malaysia is getting better or worse.
*
Lim
Kit Siang, DAP
Parliamentary leader & MP for Ipoh Timor
http://dapmalaysia.org