IGP should be more professional and neutral, says retired judge

The inspector-general of police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar should have remained professional in making his statements on the anti-Christianisation semimar held at Universiti Technology Mara (UiTM), said retired Court of Appeals judge Mohd Hishamuddin Mohd Yunus.

"With respect, the IGP should be more professional in whatever he said.

"He should give the appearance that 'I am the IGP, I am neutral and I am the custodian of public conscience," Hishamuddin said in a public forum titled 'Whither the Federal Constitution – Do fundamental and minority rights matter?' organised by the Malaysian Bar Council in Kuala Lumpur today.

Khalid had previously defended the presence of the police at the UiTM seminar.

He had asked whether there were any laws against that (presence of police in seminars), saying the police go wherever they are needed.

He said they had been invited to speak on safety issues related to the attempts to proselytise Malay Muslims.

Malacca police chief Chua Ghee Lye had earlier confirmed the attendance of a Special Branch officer as a speaker at the seminar, but said the seminar was to strengthen the faith of Muslims.

Last Saturday, Malacca UiTM held a seminar titled 'The Threat of Christian Proselytisation Movement' at its Lendu campus.

It received backlash from Christian groups after a picture of a slide from the seminar with the title were circulated on social media.

A participant told Malaysiakini the students were told that Christians use the "gold, glory, gospel" approach to proselytise Muslims

.UiTM Shah Alam was also condemned last year for holding a seminar where participants were told that undercover Christian preachers are sent to Malaysia to convert Muslims. -Mkini