Press Statement
17th April 2021

It’s time to do away with the culture of legal untouchables

In order to stay in power, the Perikatan Nasional Government seems to have embraced the culture of legal untouchables.

Lately, the Inspector General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador has highlighted yet another series of dereliction of duties by the department’s disciplinary committee, alleging that it was guilty of cover-ups.

This seems to correlate with a previous allegation by the sitting IGP that there is a cartel within the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) seeking to bring him down.

I lodged a police report two weeks ago, and I would like to know what the outcome of my police report is. Have any investigations taken place? Has anybody been made accountable and are the allegations of cartels made by the IGP true?

With the latest allegation of cover-ups, could this be the reason that deaths in lock-ups have not been adequately and professionally addressed over the years, causing great misery to family members of victims?

As the police force is responsible for maintaining public order and safety by enforcing laws, it is definitely in the public’s interest that these questions are answered.

In any case, this revelation is startling and something urgent must be done to bring integrity to the police force.

I urge the RCI to be set up urgently and to make it open to the public.

There is also a dire need for the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission to be set up (IPCMC) which has been long overdue that could shed some light on the existence of elite crime that has been covered up.

Anything less than this would not be beneficial to the country, especially when the country has been hurting recently due to corruption, forced labour, and human rights violation.

For the sake of public accountability and confidence, it is vital for Prime Minister Muhiyddin to break his silence and create the necessary conditions that would regain the people’s trust in the police institution. Being transparent and focusing on the truth of the allegation that would do away with the culture of untouchables is crucial.

Since we are unable to raise this matter in Parliament after the Emergency was declared, an RCI would be the way forward.

It is time to do away with the culture of legal untouchables.

M. Kula Segaran
MP for Ipoh Barat
DAP National Vice-Chairman