Zahid becomes brunt of internet jokes

Netizens demand to know why the Home Minister’s “shoot first” policy was not extended to the suspected murderers of Altantuya Shaariibuu and Gaik Yap.

UPDATED

KUALA LUMPUR: Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s stance that police should shoot suspected criminals without warning has attracted ridicule from Internet users.

Netizens were quick to point out that the Umno vice-president’s zeal in “defending the human rights of police and victims of robbery, shooting and murder” apparently did not extend to the suspected murderers of Altantuya Shaariibuu and Gaik Yap .

Far from being shot dead on the streets by the police, corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, chief inspectors Azilah Hadri and Shahril Jaafar were charged in court and freed this year.

Zahid’s apparent oversight in this matter was highlighted in a comic strip uploaded yesterday evening on popular anti-BN Facebook page Malaysian Gags.

The first panel depicts the home minister standing behind a podium with the words “No need to give warnings. If we have proof, shoot first” written in Malay.

This was a reference to Zahid’s speech at a closed-door security briefing in Malacca last Saturday, where he reportedly said: “What is the situation of robbery victims, murder victims during shootings? Most of them are our Malays. Most of them are our race.

“I think the best way is that we no longer compromise with them. There is no need to give them any more warning. If we get the evidence, we shoot first.”

In the second panel, Sirul and Azilah are walking to court, their faces covered, while the third panel shows Shahril handcuffed and escorted by a policeman. A small photo of Yap, who was raped and murdered in 2006, is inserted alongside him.

In the next panel, the popular Yao Ming Face meme is presented, with the words “YAB, please shoot them. There is already evidence” in Malay plastered above him.

But a laughing Zahid responds sheepishly with: “erk…sorry…my guns are lost at sea” in the final panel.

The home minister’s “excuse” in the comic alludes to his support of Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar’s claim that some guns missing from the police force’s weapons cache could have “fallen into the sea”.

This was after the Auditor-General’s 2012 report revealed the police had lost assets worth RM1.33 million in the past three years, including 156 handcuffs, 44 firearms, 29 vehicles, 26 walkie-talkies, 22 radios, six cameras, four computers, one cellphone and 21 unspecified items.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Gags’ comic strip has received 1,160 Facebook “likes” and has been shared 188 times as of this morning.

The comments continue to pour scorn on Ahmad Zahid. Facebook user Loo MH wrote: “his brain fell into the sea along with his gun” in Malay.

“Umno and BN come up with the rules in Malaysia, but they don’t apply the rules to themselves,” Keroll Anwar wrote.

Facebook user Zainal Nastaiin wrote: “Okay is it now the season to troll Zahid Hamidi? Hahahaha.”

Prosecute Zahid

In another development, law reform NGO Lawyers for Liberty expressed its concern over Zahid’s ‘shoot first’ remarks as it seemed that the minister was giving the green light to law enforcement officials to mete out death sentences to suspected offenders on the street.

“It is evident that the Home Minister is unaware of the basic concepts of the rule of law that underpins our justice system and has chosen to trample on the Federal Constitution and human rights.

“Fundamental principles of the right to life, liberty, a fair trial, due process and innocence until guilt is proven are concepts that appear to be alien to the Home Minister, which is a cause for alarm for all Malaysians,”said LFL legal coordinator Michelle Yesudas in a press statement.

The group also criticised Zahid for his yielding views on welcoming the detention without trial by taking ownership of the draconian amendments to the Prevention of Crime Act 1959.

Michelle stated that in spite of curbing gangsterism with the new preventive law and ‘shoot to kill’ policies, it is ironic that Zahid does not hesitate to back up gangsters from the Tiga Line underworld group.

“His statement disregards and disrespects the tragic deaths of many innocent Malaysians and their long suffering families,” LFL added.

LFL urged for Zahid’s immediate arrest for instigating murder and call upon Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to take stern action against ministers who publicly demonstrate such contempt for civil liberties and human lives.

But despite the criticism Zahid has received from all quarters over his remarks, he took to defending himself on micro-blogging site Twitter yesterday.

“Where are human rights for the police and victims of robbery, shooting and murder. Why are human rights activists not defending them? Are human rights only for criminals?” he tweeted in Malay.