Nazri shocks with 'I cannot be responsible' for my son: The height of irresponsibility!

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz shocked the nation when he said he could not be "responsible" for the actions of his recalcitrant son, who has been at the centre of two assault cases, one of which had resulted in the death of a 23-year-old law student.

"I think this is a most irresponsible statement to make. How a child turns out is a reflection of the teachings of his parents and culture," Tan Sri Robert Phang, a prominent citizen and civil society leader, told Malaysia Chronicle.

Anak-gate: 4-days and he is scot-free

Nazri's son, Mohamad Nedim Mohd Nazri Aziz, had allegedly driven up to a condominium in upmarket Mont Kiara in his Porsche last week, tailed by his bodyguard in a luxury MPV, and got into a fight with the building's security supervisor. Nedim was cleared by the police on Saturday, just 4 days after the incident took place.

This is not the first time Nedim has been involved in a violent encounter and was also cleared by the police. In 2004, law student Darren Kang was beaten to death allegedly by a group of workers at a restaurant in the Desa Sri Hartamas area, which is close by to Mont Kiara, after a spat involving Nazri's son.

The workers - 10 Thais and one Malaysian - were arrested. Nedim who admitted being there but insisted he did not take part in the beating had been accused of instigating the beating. (click here to read more)

When approached for comment on the latest incident, which took place on March 20, Nazri's reaction was to hide behind legal technicalities.

“I can’t even comment. If I start to comment, that might prejudice the situation because there is already a police report,” the Malaysian Insider reported him as saying.

“I cannot be responsible for his actions. It has nothing to do with me."

Nazri, the de-facto law minister, was referring to the police reports lodged on the matter.

Second time, no more cover-ups

Given that this is not the first time the police have "suspiciously" cleared Nedim and with unusual speed, opposition leaders are demanding a full-scale inquiry. PKR vice president N Surendran accused the police of covering up for Nazri so as to "save face" for his Umno party.

Surendran also pointed out that in clearing Nedim, the police had stated facts that ran contrary to a police report made by the security personnel, who had been allegedly beaten up by Nedim and his bodyguard. The PKR leader, who is also a human rights lawyer, called for the condo's CCTV tapes to be made public.

"Are the police trying to protect Umno and the government's reputation? The public is entitled to a thorough and impartial investigation into this incident. Wan Abdul Bari's statement is inconsistent with earlier reports that Nazri's son had personally assaulted the security guard," said Surendran.

"It has also been reported that there are CCTV recordings of the entire incident. What do the CCTV tapes reveal? In their rush to clear the senior Umno Minister's son of wrongdoing, the police have only raised more suspicions and doubts as to what really transpired on the night of March 20."

Brickfields district police chief ACP Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid had said on Saturday that it was “a clear-cut case” and only the security personnel and Nedim’s bodyguard were involved.

“I do not know why and how another person was dragged into this,” said Wan Abdul Bari.

How come so much money to buy Porsche, luxury MPV

Surendran also called on Nazri to come clean on the source of funds for the purchase of the Porsche and luxury MPV used by his son during the incident.

"It has become standard practice for the police to rush to the defence of BN leaders or their relatives who are suspected of crimes. Just before the UMNO AGM in December 2011, DIGP Datuk Khalid Bakar had issued a statement clearing the NFC of wrongdoing even though investigations were not yet complete.

"Eventually, due to public pressure, the husband of cabinet minister Sharizat was charged for CBT over the NFC fiasco.This pro-BN conduct of the police leadership has resulted in massive public loss of confidence in the police force. We call upon the IGP to form a special investigation team to further investigate this assault case involving a top minister's son. The AG must also exercise his powers to direct the police to carry our further investigations."

Malaysia Chronicle