Check my track record first, Hanif tells critics

Former inspector-general of police (IGP) Hanif Omar has urged his critics to check his track record in previous investigating committees before questioning his integrity to lead the independent panel to probe police brutality during Bersih 3.0 rally.

Hanif was part of the eight-member panel looking into the fatal shooting of 14-year-old Aminulrasyid Amzah (right) in 2010.

“If they are worried that there will be unfairness, they can ask the panel members involved whether I was being unfair then,” he told Malay daily Sinar Harian.

The same perception against him occurred, Hanif said, when he was appointed to the Special Commission to Enhance the Operations and Management of the Royal Malaysian Police in 2004.

However, he hoped to perform the responsibility given by the government to head the panel.

“After asking the Home Ministry, I was informed by the chief secretary that his minister (Hishammuddin Hussein) will call me soon on the terms of reference,” he was quoted as saying.

Speaking to English daily The Star, Hanif brushed off claims that it would be a conflict of interest for him to head the penal as the committee would be dealing with facts.

“I would like to think that I have always been able to be independent-minded,” he said in a text message to the daily yesterday.

He was responding to a statement by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng who claimed that his appointment raised doubts about the panel’s integrity and credibility as the police were also being investigated.

On whether he would invite a representative from the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) to join the panel, Hanif replied, “I have no word on this from the minister. He is the appointing authority.”

Other members of the panel are former Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Steve Shim; Sinar Harianmanaging editor Hussamuddin Yaacub, legal adviser to Media Chinese International (Sin Chew Group) Liew Peng Chuan, Petronas corporate affairs senior general manager Medan Abdullah and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia psychologist Prof Rozmi Ismail.

Saifuddin: Hanif’s appointment less appropriate

In another development, Deputy Higher Education Minister Saifuddin Abdullah chose to take a stand closer to Hanif’s critics, saying that his appointment is “less appropriate”.

“I respect Hanif very much. The Malaysian police force was in its golden era when he was the IGP. As a panel member, he is the appropriate choice but less appropriate as the panel chairperson because it involves investigation against the actions of the police,” he was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian.

He also said that it would be better if the panel could include those with outstanding track record in human rights and democratic improvement measures.

“To me, this is a good chance for the government to correct the perception and explain to the people what had really happened. If it is conducted properly and the chance is used properly, I feel it will bring benefit to the government,” he added.