Why is Najib so inhumane? asks Sugumar’s family

Eighty days on and security guard's remains still at a morgue awaiting clearance for a second autopsy

PETALING JAYA: The late C Sugumar’s family will continue to seek justice for the security guard’s death, said PKR vice-president N Surendran today.

Speaking at a press conference at the party’s headquarters, Surendran said that 80 days have passed but Sugumar’s remains are still being kept at the Serdang Hospital morgue.

“The family members are unable to perform the last rites as they are still hopeful for a second autopsy,” said Surendran, who was accompanied by party supreme council member Latheefa Koya.

Also present were Sugumar’s mother K Manimegalai and his uncle A Kuppusamy.

On Jan 23, Sugumar, a 40-year-old security guard, was alleged to have been chased, handcuffed and beaten to death by policemen and several civilians.

The government said Sugumar died from a heart attack but his family rejected the finding and demanded for a second autopsy, to be done by Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand

But on Feb 14, Pornthip refused to conduct the second post-mortem on Sugumar, citing personal reasons, but PKR had accused Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak of having a hand in it.

Najib had since denied the allegation.

Kuppusamy urged Najib to be compassionate and allow Pornthip to conduct the second post-mortem on his nephew.

“Why is the prime minister disregarding Sugumar’s death? It is inhuman to allow my family to suffer like this,” he said.

Surendran said that if elected to federal power, the Pakatan Rakyat government would immediately invite Pornthip to conduct the second autopsy on Sugumar’s remains.

“The current government seems indifferent to the plight of Sugumar’s family,” he said.

‘Stop the threats’

On another matter, Surendran criticised the police for threatening to use the Securities Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) during the general election.

“We view this as an attempt to intimidate opposition workers and non-governmental organisations from monitoring the electoral process,” he said.

Two days ago, Bukit Aman’s legal and prosecution division principal assistant director Razali Basri said that those arrested between nomination day and polling day on suspicion of causing unrest could be investigated under Sosma and charged under the Penal Code.

“This includes the new Section 124B of the Penal Code concerning activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy, which is punishable by imprisonment of up to 20 years,” said Razali.

He added that Section 124C of Sosma referred to an attempt to commit an offence, which carries a maximum jail sentence of 15 years.

Surendran said that Sosma was designed as a counter-terrorism law and should not be used against Malaysians during the general election.

He added that only Elections Offences Act 1954 and the Penal Code should be enforced during election, saying the two laws were adequate to cover public order issues.

“I urge the prime minister and the home minister to withdraw the statement. It’s embarassing for our government to threaten the usage of a counter-terrorism law during election.

“The government never threatened to use security laws during elections before. Why now?” he asked.

Meanwhile, Surendran brushed aside any notion that N Gobalakrishnan would be able to mount a serious challenge in the contest for the Padang Serai parliamentary seat.

“First of all, he cannot contest due to his conviction in a criminal case. Even if he is allowed, the people of Padang Serai have rejected him for leaving PKR to become Barisan Nasional-friendly,” he said.

On July last year, Gobalakrishnan was convicted and fined RM5,000 for obstructing a police officer during the Permatang Pauh by-election in 2009.

The High Court upheld the conviction but the Court of Appeal in January this year had granted him leave to appeal against his sentencing.