Politicians, let the IGP do his job

Many of us will still remember the Lahad Datu incursion by Sulu militants from the Philippines in 2013.

For Sabahans, that must surely be one episode they can never forget or rather, wish had never taken place. That invasion was the first attack on our soil by a foreign army in the nation’s modern history.

Tragically, we lost eight of our brave security personnel in Ops Sulu and Ops Daulat, which were launched to crush the invaders.

I recall ticking off politicians who made all kinds of weird and silly comments during the standoff with the Filipino terrorists which lasted for almost two months (photo). 

There is something crucial which our politicians must bear in mind - there are certain issues which are beyond them and it is best that they keep their opinions to themselves, one of which is terrorism.

The issue of terrorism and the threat posed by the Islamic State (IS) in Malaysia is a very serious one, so much so that Bukit Aman has also set up a special Counter-Terrorism Division. Its aim is to strengthen the country’s preparedness and enhance the police force’s capabilities to counter the increasingly intense global threats of terrorism.

As a keen observer of police work and the key staff movement within Bukit Aman, I must applaud the appointment of Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay as the counter-terrorism chief.

He has been known to be “eating, sleeping and breathing” counter-terrorism in his many years in the force. Ayob Khan certainly deserved his recent promotion as well to deputy police commissioner.

I am sure many Malaysians are deeply concerned with the IS threat on our shores. Although it is not a subject we want to talk about in our daily conversation, the threat is real indeed.

The grenade attack on the Movida Nightclub in Puchong last year has been confirmed by the police to be the first IS incident in the country. Eight patrons of the club were injured. Two young militants, aged 21 and 24, were sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment for carrying out the attack.

For three consecutive days over this past week, Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun (photo) has been issuing terrorism-related statements.

For those of us who were attentive to what the police chief said, there are reasons to be really concerned, terrified even. But let’s keep the faith with the IGP and our security personnel, that they will keep the people and the country safe from terror threats.

A statement of particular interest from Mohamad Fuzi was the seizure of several Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) with an impact radius of 30m and the arrests of three men, all believed to be IS militants, in Kelantan last week.

It is learnt that while the bombs were capable of injuring those within 30m of the blast, they would have definitely killed those within a 10m radius.

Their intended targets, among others, included the Better Beer Festival, scheduled for Oct 6-7, that was cancelled as well as non-Muslim houses of worship, added the country’s top cop.

The major issue with politicians

When the IGP announced last month that the police did not permit the staging of the beer festival due to security concerns, politicians started to criticise the police almost immediately.

Therein lies this major issue with politicians, which I find most disappointing and deplorable. They are unable to accept Mohamad Fuzi’s well-meaning advice for reasons best known to themselves.

Perhaps, some who had run-ins with former IGPs in the past took it personally. They just cannot trust any IGP anymore given the less-than-impressive records of some ex-IGPs.

Of course, some could never forget Anwar Ibrahim’s “black eye” too, which was caused by a punch from former IGP Abdul Rahim Noor when he was in police custody. To this group of politicians, the IGP can do no right.

So what do they do? They turned this honest cancellation directive of a simple beer festival into a political and religious issue.

Politicians from both sides are to be blamed. One called the beer festival a “vice party”. Another asked why drinking beer should be politically sensitive.

Yet another opined that the issue was too sensitive as it touched religious and political grounds. One party leader even demanded an apology from his opponent after the police confirmed that the festival was indeed a target of IS.

But the silliest of them all was a certain “fishmonger” who smashed crates of beer with a sledgehammer (photo) outside the Selangor State Secretariat Building (surely, there is no need to mention his name).

Over in Sarawak, a state minister also weighed in on the matter, proudly declaring that the state government will allow Oktoberfest – a popular German beer festival – to be held as “it is good for tourism”.

That was an attempt to score brownie points, of course. It is telling the world that Sarawak is different from Peninsular Malaysia – beer festivals are okay with us.

Although I’m glad that my home state took a different approach, the political undertones, however, cannot camouflage its real motive. That is also disappointing to me.

“Based on actionable intelligence, we monitored the group and managed to apprehend them before they could launch their attacks.

"We do not simply advise against cancelling any event unless the threat is real,” the IGP said, referring to the backlash the cancellation of the Better Beer Festival has garnered.

Now, do we believe the IGP or do some of us still think that he is playing politics? For me and on all matters regarding terrorism and the IS threat, let me repeat that I trust the IGP and his team, not politicians.

By the way, what’s the big deal about a beer festival? If we can’t stage one this year, there is always next year and the next. There will always be beer festivals. Or why don’t you just drink at home or in the pub?

In the Lahad Datu standoff in 2013, I had posted this message on Facebook: "For once, can our politicians from both sides shut up and stop their silly, stupid and outrageous comments on Ops Sulu and Ops Daulat?

"Stop criticising the work of our security forces there. This is a time when the nation has to come together. So put aside your political differences for once."

Four years later, I would like to ask those “noisy” politicians whether they have done anything for the families of the eight soldiers and policemen who lost their lives in the defence of our nation.

If so, well and good. If not, I bet you do understand now why some politicians are classified in the “no action, talk only” (NATO) group.

Let me also say this to all politicians out there today: Forgive my honesty but I don’t expect any of you to protect me, my family and my fellow citizens, or risk your lives for the nation should we come under attack from the IS or other terror groups. However, I believe I can depend on IGP Mohamad Fuzi Harun and his men and women to do that.

So, please, let the IGP do his job.

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FRANCIS PAUL SIAH heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS) and can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com. - Mkini