Committee’s instant results a hard act to emulate

Syabas. Well done and congratulations.

Within two days of their appointment, a committee of three ministers and the attorney-general has done something that the police could not do – solve a crime.

This news is not something that was picked from thin air. Neither is it “news” that was picked from social media and it certainly is not fake news.

Yesterday, Housing and Local Government Minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican said that the investigations by the special committee into the death of firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim (above) will lead to the arrest of the suspects.

“Even if it’s difficult, we will use all our efforts (in investigating the case),” FMT quoted Reezal Merican as saying.

Muhammad Adib suffered serious injuries while on duty at a riot outside a temple in Subang Jaya in November 2018. He died in hospital three weeks later.

A coroner’s court ruled that he died after a criminal act perpetrated by more than two unidentified people.

The committee needs to be applauded and we, the citizens must be indebted to this committee for moving to solve a crime after sitting for just one meeting.

Take a bow, the members of the committee led by de facto Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, Reezal Merican, Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin and Attorney-General Idrus Harun.

Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar

We do not know what methodology they used and what evidence they had gathered to come to such a conclusion.

But it’s not time to pop the champagne of the non-alcoholic sparkling wine. Going through some history, the arrests may not be of those who directly caused the death of the firefighter.

That’s because on Aug 4 last year, Hamzah told Parliament that the police have recommended charging 12 suspects related to the death of Muhammad Adib.

He told Parliament: “The police have conducted investigations based on the instructions by the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) and have compiled evidence to be presented to the prosecution.

But Hamzah’s statement came with a caveat: “The investigation papers have been presented to the AGC on July 23 last year with the following recommendations: that they charge 12 suspects under Section 143 of the Penal Code (for illegal gathering).”

So, this has nothing to do with directly causing the firefighter’s death but the issues related to the commotion caused by an attempt by the developer to demolish a Hindu temple.

But in December last year, Hamzah told Parliament again that the investigation “was now in the final stages and the results would be submitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers”.

Housing and Local Government Minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican

Despite two ministerial answers in Parliament, are we to believe that the arrests which Reezal Merican talked about would be related to rioting and not causing death? Let us not jump the gun.

Let us give this committee the credit it deserves. Despite not being empowered to compel witnesses to testify, it has done a wonderful job, and promptly too.

Why can’t Malaysians accept the fact that this committee, unknown to even the police, has obtained and collated more documents than the entire police force had done for over 18 months?

Let us assume it has gathered enough evidence and identified those who caused Muhammed Adib’s death. Surely, Reezal Merican did not shoot his mouth off without the evidence.

This is certainly a good sign. The doubting Thomases and those who don’t have much faith in the police force can turn to this committee, or to any one of its four members with evidence which the police may have missed or may have slipped through their hands.

All like-minded Malaysians will agree that this committee has done a great job. While at it, we should ask its members to look at the case of M Indira Gandhi’s daughter, Prasana Diksa.

She has been missing for 10 years and was 11 months old when she was taken by her father, Muhammad Riduan Abdullah, who had converted to Islam.

We know the elections are not far away and this would be the perfect time for this committee to show that it practises and promotes the prime minister’s “One Family” concept encompassing all Malaysians. What about also including the case of the two missing pastors?

Anglican pastor Richard Koh, 62, went missing on Feb 13, 2017, from Petaling Jaya and Amri Che Mat, a social activist from Perlis, went missing on Nov 24, 2016.

The conclusion is that this committee has shown it is more efficient and competent. Therefore, shouldn’t all enforcement agencies get help from this committee to crack all the unsolved cases? - Mkini

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R NADESWARAN says this committee has set the benchmark for government agencies and statutory bodies in terms of achieving results and meeting targets. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.