Opposition politicians are racheting up the pressure by calling on the government to suspend attorney-general (AG) Abdul Gani Patail following revelations of his suspected involvement in what is now known as the 'Copgate affair'.
PKR vice-president N Surendran (left) said these are indeed serious allegations made against Abdul Gani, former inspector-general of police (IGP) Musa Hassan and the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), which has since morphed into the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
The allegations, he said, are serious as it was alleged that the former police chief had links with an underworld kingpin.
"It is not the normal rank-and-file police officer but allegedly the top echelon, with the AG conspiring to protect the IGP, using the ACA.
"Furthermore, the allegation is not made by any man in the street but (former Commercial Crimes Investigation Department director) Ramli Yusuff, a very senior police officer in the force...
"There are also other allegations besides this one against the AG. Why has the government not taken any action on them?" he asked.
Surendran also said the speaker of the Dewan Rakyat should not have dismissed Subang MP R Sivarasa's urgent motion for it to be debated in Parliament last Wednesday.
This issue, the PKR vice-president said, involves the country's most senior legal officer, who is still in office.
"The matter should have been allowed to be debated. At the very least, Abdul Gani should be suspended, pending a full investigation," he said.
PKR vice-president N Surendran (left) said these are indeed serious allegations made against Abdul Gani, former inspector-general of police (IGP) Musa Hassan and the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), which has since morphed into the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).The allegations, he said, are serious as it was alleged that the former police chief had links with an underworld kingpin.
"It is not the normal rank-and-file police officer but allegedly the top echelon, with the AG conspiring to protect the IGP, using the ACA.
"Furthermore, the allegation is not made by any man in the street but (former Commercial Crimes Investigation Department director) Ramli Yusuff, a very senior police officer in the force...
"There are also other allegations besides this one against the AG. Why has the government not taken any action on them?" he asked.
Surendran also said the speaker of the Dewan Rakyat should not have dismissed Subang MP R Sivarasa's urgent motion for it to be debated in Parliament last Wednesday.
This issue, the PKR vice-president said, involves the country's most senior legal officer, who is still in office.
"The matter should have been allowed to be debated. At the very least, Abdul Gani should be suspended, pending a full investigation," he said.
PM shoots down tribunal
Surendran also said the allegations against Musa and Abdul Gani also show that the Sodomy I and Sodomy II trials were fabricated as they involve the same players.
He said the duo were both involved in Sodomy I, where Musa was the investigating officer and Gani the prosecutor, and again in 2008 when Musa was the IGP and Gani, the attorney-general.
There have been allegations made about the conduct of the two in these cases, Surendran pointed out, including that by former Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief Mat Zain Ibrahim, the investigating officer of the "black eye" case.
Surendran said despite this, the black-eye incident - where former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim was beaten by then police chief Abdul Rahim Noor - was not properly dealt with as alleged by Mat Zain.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Najib Razak (left in photo) shot down calls for a tribunal to be set up to probe the allegations.
"This is an allegation which has to be substantiated," he said at a press conference after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting in Kuala Lumpur last night.
Both former top cops, Ramli and Mat Zain, have offered to testifyshould there be a tribunal on the matter.
In addition, several serving police officers have also toldMalaysiakini that they are prepared to testify if a tribunal is called.
'Prima facie evidence' for a tribunal
Meanwhile, PAS legal adviser Asmuni Awi said there was already ample prima facie evidence for a tribunal against Gani and Musa.
He said that if the allegations were not true, the police and the AG would have taken civil action for slander or file for criminal defamation.
Like Surendran, Asmuni (left) considered Ramli's allegations as extremely serious.
"It is vital that we restore the image of the police and the Attorney-General's Chambers. That is why having a tribunal or a royal commission of inquiry would help restore public confidence."
Asmuni, who is a former magistrate, stressed that the allegations have since affected the standing of the AG, which under the constitution is the custodian of the law.
"If his image has been tarnished with allegations of involvement with the underworld, it is not something that can be brushed aside.
"A tribunal (if held) would be seen as an effort not to let any stone be left unturned on the matter and an opportunity to restore confidence in the institution," he said.
Surendran also said the allegations against Musa and Abdul Gani also show that the Sodomy I and Sodomy II trials were fabricated as they involve the same players.
He said the duo were both involved in Sodomy I, where Musa was the investigating officer and Gani the prosecutor, and again in 2008 when Musa was the IGP and Gani, the attorney-general.There have been allegations made about the conduct of the two in these cases, Surendran pointed out, including that by former Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief Mat Zain Ibrahim, the investigating officer of the "black eye" case.
Surendran said despite this, the black-eye incident - where former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim was beaten by then police chief Abdul Rahim Noor - was not properly dealt with as alleged by Mat Zain.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Najib Razak (left in photo) shot down calls for a tribunal to be set up to probe the allegations."This is an allegation which has to be substantiated," he said at a press conference after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting in Kuala Lumpur last night.
Both former top cops, Ramli and Mat Zain, have offered to testifyshould there be a tribunal on the matter.
In addition, several serving police officers have also toldMalaysiakini that they are prepared to testify if a tribunal is called.
'Prima facie evidence' for a tribunal
Meanwhile, PAS legal adviser Asmuni Awi said there was already ample prima facie evidence for a tribunal against Gani and Musa.
He said that if the allegations were not true, the police and the AG would have taken civil action for slander or file for criminal defamation.
Like Surendran, Asmuni (left) considered Ramli's allegations as extremely serious."It is vital that we restore the image of the police and the Attorney-General's Chambers. That is why having a tribunal or a royal commission of inquiry would help restore public confidence."
Asmuni, who is a former magistrate, stressed that the allegations have since affected the standing of the AG, which under the constitution is the custodian of the law.
"If his image has been tarnished with allegations of involvement with the underworld, it is not something that can be brushed aside.
"A tribunal (if held) would be seen as an effort not to let any stone be left unturned on the matter and an opportunity to restore confidence in the institution," he said.
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