‘Convoy arrests an abuse of police power’

Comment by a MalaysiaKini reader
in response to police arrests of Hindraf supporters

Hindraf supporters in a Black Maria on their way to the lockup. [Photo: Free Malaysia Today]

“

Since when does a convoy need a police permit? PM Najib Razak, Rosmah Mansor, and ministers travel in convoys; there are wedding and funeral convoys; there are even treasure-hunt convoys. Do they all need police permits?

This is blatant abuse of police powers under the guise of enforcing the law. Does enforcing the law include slapping women? Very soon, the Indians are going to hit back. There is a limit to everybody’s patience and tolerance.

But then these same Indians voted for the Pakatan Rakyat in 2008 in huge numbers with a swing of 80 percent. So what has changed in the last two years? The BN’s tactics are still the same — bribery, intimidation, ‘instant noodle’ projects, etc, as in the past, but why the swing towards the BN now?

Granted, most poor Indians are less exposed and poor, so it is easy to influence them but why hasn’t Pakatan been able to stem this tide. I do not agree with everything that Hindraf or HRP (Human Rights Party) does but putting aside the cause, their arbitrary ar­rests and detention by the police deserves condemnation from all quarters. It is a civil liberties issue.

I frown upon communal politics but realistically it is going to take decades to change this. Pakatan should admit it and start working with all groups on a wider platform for social justice, fairness and equality. No one party has a monopoly over virtue. What is impor­tant is winning seats so that the reform agenda can succeed. Pol­itics is all about accom­moda­tion.”
Gerard Samuel Vijayan

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/155946-uppercaise