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Bersih rally reports ready

Wednesday, 14 September 2011 09:33am

©The Sun (Used by permission)
by Husna Yusop

PUTRAJAYA (Sept 13, 2011): Reports of the three police committees set up after the July 9 Bersih 2.0 rally have been completed and are ready to be presented to the cabinet, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said.

It will be up to the cabinet to decide whether the reports will be made public, Hishammuddin said, adding his personal feeling is that it the public should be allowed to see and judge the report.

“The police must not discriminate – what is right, is right, what is wrong, is wrong. They must hold on to the standard operating procedures (SOP). Those who do not follow procedures must be exposed.

“Apart from that, action must be taken against certain allegations such as the baseless police reports or false claims. But, the onus is on the Attorney-General to do this as it is his responsibility,” the minister said after a meeting with former Inspectors-General of Police (IGP) and deputies (DIGP) at the ministry here, today.

Among those present were former IGPs Tun Haniff Omar and Tan Sri Norian Mai, retired DIGP Tan Sri Hussin Ismail, present DIGP Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar and Home Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Mahmood Adam.

Hishammuddin said details of the committee reports, such as the issues investigated and their scope of investigations, would be announced by IGP Tan Sri Ismail Omar later.

“I believe it will be based on events alleged by certain quarters to have taken place which are pro and against actions that have been taken.

“It is just a matter of informing the public based on the investigations and the public will have to make a decision,” he said, adding the report does not meant to “repair any damage” as assumed by some.

It is believed some 10,000 people took part in an illegal street rally in Kuala Lumpur, organised by The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) after the latter's efforts to get a permit to hold a rally urging for electoral reform at Stadium Merdeka failed.

Police used water cannons and tear gas to break up the protests, and arrested more than 1,600 people for taking part, including Bersih 2.0 chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, and several Pakatan Rakyat leaders.

Some quarters claimed the police used excessive force, and that tear gas was shot into the compound of the Tung Shin Maternity Hospital after Bersih supporters ran there to take shelter. Police have denied these allegations.

On the meeting with the former top police officers, Hishammuddin said it was also meant to look into ways to strengthen the police force and ensure better welfare of the police.

“We would like to get the feedback from ex-police associations on few things such as how to make the Royal Malaysian Police a career with a convincing future and a profession with an important position,” he added.

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