Police yet to receive Adib’s inquest report - IGP

The police have not received the official inquest report for firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador said today.

“Once we receive it, we will go through it and then we will see what we can do,” he told a press conference in Putrajaya.

Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who was also at the conference, explained that police’s standard operating procedure (SOP) was already under review before Coroner Rofiah Mohamad ruled on Sept 23 that police inaction was one of the factors that led to Adib being attacked by assailants during last year’s Seafield riots.

“It was my instructions and not because of the Seafield incident [...] that the SOPs of many agencies were being done (reviewed). The police's was one of them.

“[...] Because most of the SOPs have been there for many, many years, so there is a need to make some changes, and they have done so. As far as I am concerned, this is an ongoing thing,” he said when asked.

Hamid previously opined that there was “no need” to amend police’s riot control procedures, but promised to check if they were adhered to during the Seafield riots.

Sosma amendments next, but not soon

At present, Muhyiddin (below) revealed that his ministry was studying amendments to the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), but did not expect it to be ready in time for the upcoming Dewan Rakyat sitting, which will begin next Mon (Oct 7).

“We still have to engage with parties who have offered us their suggestions on the law. We have not decided (when to table) it yet as of now,” he said.

Earlier, the minister and Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad launched the Security and Public Order Policy (Dasar Keselamatan dan Ketenteraman Awam).

An update of 2016’s Dasar Keselamatan Dalam Negeri, it comprises six thrusts - defending the Federal Constitution, rule of law and main institutions; improving the administration and integrity of security forces; strengthening border security; ensuring security and public order; combating drugs; as well as protecting the assets and main aims of the country.

Muhyiddin explained that the new policy served as a guide for security forces to address trans-border crime and cybersecurity challenges, among other things. - Mkini