Media Statement
by Lim Guan Eng

(Petaling Jaya, Friday): The Kajang OCPD Mohd Noor Hakim Kassim should take the hint from the IGP Tan Sri Bakri Omar who does not want stupid officers that does not understand human rights and resign if he fails to stop shaving bald those detained in the Kajang police lock-up. During the IGP’s speech at the start of a human rights seminar for district police chiefs yesterday, he expressed unhappiness that the Kajang OCPD had nothing better to do than to shave bald 10 men arrested for alleged gambling in the lockup.

The IGP continued, "These days it seems that the responsibility has shifted to the IGP. The OCPD Kajang did not have to answer (for the shaving incident) as much as I did. If he knew how much I had to answer, he would apologise to me 10 times. DAP does not doubt that the OCPD Kajang would have apologized immediately to his boss more than 10 times. Such sentiments expressed by the IGP is praiseworthy as it is the first time an IGP has shown his commitment clearly towards upholding human rights.

However, it is equally important for the Kajang OCPD to apologise to the public and the 10 men who were shaved bald for infringing their rights. His failure to apologise to the 10 bald men shows lack of remorse for the wrongs he has committed. It is unfortunate that the bald men have rejected DAP’s offer of free legal aid to sue the police for compensation for their suffering. Instead they have chosen to trust MCA who have not obtained neither an apology or that their charges be dropped from the Selangor CPO or the Kajang OCPD.

Just like the recent 30 cents fuel price hike, MCA wakil rakyats may express mild opposition only in the Chinese press and not in the Malay or English press. After all the public furore has died down, they will quietly forget about the matter. To believe that MCA cares about human rights is to believe that sharks do not like the smell of blood.

The time has come to support the IGP’s calls to remove our OCPDs who insist on being  stupid officers by refusing to understand human rights. Such stupid officers not only smear the reputation of the police but put the lives of those detained by the police in danger even before they are charged in court. Only such commitment and desire together with the implementation of 125 recommendations of the Royal Commission Report on Police can Malaysia enjoy a first class police service that is a friend of the people by protecting us from criminals and upholds our constitutional rights.

(03/03/2006)