Police must explain why it practises double-standards in the handling of the Father Lawrence and Harussani cases

The Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar has said that the police have taken a statement from the Perak Mufti Harussani Zakaria on his remark that it is permissible to spill the blood of those who protested in the New Year’s Eve anti-price hike rally.

But the Police must explain why it practises double-standards in the handling of the Father Lawrence and Harussani case.

There is no doubt that swift and drastic action would have been taken against Father Lawrence if he had said anything about spilling blood, but the same urgency is absent in the Harussani case.

The police have recommended that Father Lawrence Andrews, the editor of the Herald, be charged with sedition but the police must explain why it has not made similar recommendation for the prosecution of Harussani.

The Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said today that no decision has been made on the sedition investigation against Father Lawrence.

Would he inquire of the police as to what has happened to its investigation against Harussani?

The Police, the Attorney-General and the whole administration of justice must not only be fair but must be seen to be fair.

Unfortunately, this is not the case in recent years and decades, especially during the 22-year premiership of Tun Dr. Mahathir and this is why public confidence in the administration of justice, which included the judiciary, the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Police, has suffered such a major blow in the nation’s history.