‘Cops forced to protest against Mat Sabu’

MP Mujahid says he has a copy of the directive to policemen.

KUALA LUMPUR: Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Yusof Rawa today accused the police force of compelling its officers to sign a petition against PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu over his alleged glorification of British-era resistance fighter Mat Indera.

He has demanded a clarification from the Home Minister.

Mujahid, who is a member of the PAS Central Committee, claimed to have a copy of the directive, which he said was issued last Sept 13 by the Commander of the Central Brigade of the General Operations Force, better known by the abbreviation PGA, for Pasukan Gerak Am.

He said the directive was accompanied by a form for signatures and was to be returned by Sept 22. He quoted from it: “On the command of PGA’s Central Brigade, please obtain the signature of all senior officers, general staff and retirees of the police and the public to support this campaign.”

Mujahid told reporters he did not know how many signatures the campaign obtained.

He said he received his copy of the directive from an unidentified source through a third party.

He also said he would not let the issue rest until Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein had explained why the police force was getting involved in politics.

“Political issues should be fought by political means, not by using the police force, which smears its integrity,” he said.

“I am done dealing with the police. Now I want the minister to answer. If this form is a fake, then please come out and say so.”

The controversy over Mat Indera was sparked by a speech that Mohamad gave last August in which he mentioned the communist attack on the Bukit Kepong police station in 1950. Mat Indera was one of the attackers. Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, allegedly called him a national hero for resisting the British colonial administration.

About 900 police reports were made against Mat Sabu and he has been charged in court with criminal defamation. He is out on bail. The charge will be mentioned again on 27.