It is Zahid who should resign not Waytha

 

The manner these youths were killed has brought many to suspect that the police had summarily executed them. 

 

Jakun Malaysia 

The recent killings of 5 Indian youths at 4:30 am on August 19 in Sungai Nibong by the police has brought a split in public opinion. At one end of the scale, due to the recent alarming rise in crime as well as murders particularly using firearms in Malaysia, has brought a sigh of relief that the police appear to be finally doing their job. 

On the other hand, the manner these youths were killed has brought many to suspect that the police had summarily executed them. 

There are a few issues that has raised this suspicion that the police have not been able to give a proper explanation.

1) If these 5 Indian youths were already in a condo unit, they were already trapped and could not have escaped hence there was no reason for them to be killed.

2) None of these suspects were on the Emergency Ordinance list. Some family members even claim that 2 of those who were killed had no criminal record. Moreover only 3 firearms were retrieved meaning 2 of them were unarmed when the police had gunned them down.

3) Why were the CCTV recordings of the condo unit demanded by the police to be shut down prior to the shootings? Why did not the police record the incident as it was a covert operation that was planned in advance?

4) How was it possible that the police were able to trace the ballistic records of the retrieved firearms and point it to 10 previous murders and 2 attempted murder cases within less than 12 hours? Could the police educate the public on this 'advanced' forensic studies that could put Interpol and CSI to shame? If it indeed is true then well and good, but if it isn't then the murderers of those crimes will continue to remain at large much to the anguish of the general public.

5) Were the suspects, who had an average age of 25, the real masterminds behind the spate of murders taking place throughout Malaysia? If not what good is it to the police for having them killed and be unable to retrieve any information from them at all? Did they have links to bigger gang triads and were they just mere fall guys  of the real masterminds behind these crimes? Did they have any unholy Anastasia links with any police chiefs or dirty politicians and as such killing them off will remove all evidences of these murders that could trace it back to them?

6) One that was murdered was a mistaken identity as well. 

The criminal justice system should be based on the principle that one is innocent until proven guilty. This system has a paramount duty to act fairly for all. Not only must justice be done; it must also be seen to be done.

It was therefore very refreshing to see that at least one member of the cabinet of the ruling BN government Mr Waytha Moorthy, had come out openly and requested that the Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail conduct an inquest into this shooting incident to dispel the mistrust the Indian community has on the police investigating their own alleged misconduct. 

This act of goodwill was instantly drowned into oblivion by the Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who requested Waytha to toe the government line and not issue statements that contradicted government policy. 

He went on to add that Waytha should not continue to regard himself as an NGO and should not interfere in police work.

Perhaps the Home Minister has misunderstood Waytha's call for an inquest. It does not 'interfere' with police work but only enhances the image of the police to project transparency in its duties. 

 

The police are supposed to be independent of the government of the day and as such Zahid's call for 'toeing the government line' would give room for suspicion that he is 'hand in glove' with the police, which by right he should not be as the police are supposed to be conducting their duties independently of the government. 

In the Home Ministry's official portal, it clearly states the thrusts of his ministry is based on integrity, quality, innovation and professionalism and as such conducting an inquest into the recent shootings goes in line with these values. One of the stated objectives of the Home Ministry is to establish strategic co-operation and smart partnerships with other government agencies and 'NGOs' as well as international bodies to ensure peace and public order. 

As such Zahid's call to distance himself from an NGO is indeed quite baffling particularly as HINDRAF has requested for integrity and professionalism be conducted and displayed in the form of an inquest. 

The Home Minister should allay suspicions of his critics that he has one eye focused on the coming UMNO elections and as such going on a 'HINDRAF' bashing mode will earn him some popular sentiments among the UMNO ultras.

If at all Zahid's word is as good as what his Ministry's official portal describes then he should welcome Waytha's call for an inquest into the recent shootings in Sungai Nibong and bring about the very much needed transparency and accountability to the police force in Malaysia. If this isn't 'government policy' then God have mercy on all Malaysians.