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Media Conference       
by Lim Kit Siang  
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(Ipoh, Monday): The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi must respect human rights and end police abuses of power of “arrest then investigate” and insist that police adhere strictly to “investigate then arrest” procedures.

Abdullah should order the immediate release of blogger, PKR webmaster and aide to Anwar Ibrahim, Nathaniel Tan to send a clear message that his administration and the police under his watch respect human rights, one of the three core functions delineated by the Royal Police Commission in its Report and 125 recommendations to create an efficient, incorruptible, professional world-class police service.

Police abuses of power were manifest when they first let it be known that Tan was arrested in connection with the doctored photograph purportedly showing Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak with his confidante Razak Baginda and the murdered Mongolian woman Altantunya Shaariibuu.

Then there was talk about action against Tan under the Penal Code before the Official Secrets Act (OSA) was trotted out as the reason for Tan’s continued remand.

And most incredible of all, the subject of the OSA action was the anonymous website on the RM5.5 million corruption allegations against Deputy Internal Security Minister, Datuk Seri Johari Baharum.

It is not only Johari who would want to know the identity of the person or persons responsible for the anonymous website which posted the corruption allegations against Johari – and there are allegations that the anonymous website could originate from within the police itself.

Let there be a full and thorough investigation to find out who is responsible for the anonymous website making the RM5.5 million corruption allegations against Johari, but leave Tan alone, as nobody seriously suggest that Tan is responsible for the anonymous website.

In the circumstances, the arrest of Tan is not to find out who are the person or persons behind the anonymous website against Johari, but has an ulterior motive – and must be regarded as highly intimidatory of dissent and a threat to all bloggers in the Malaysian blogosphere.

It is most ridiculous and outrageous that the anonymous website on the corruption allegations against Johari could be the basis for police arrest of Tan under the Official Secrets Act when there can be no reason to suspect that Tan was responsible for the website.

Not only the Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail should act to stop further abuse of such police powers, the Cabinet must discuss the issue on Wednesday and send out a clear directive to the police that it must respect human rights and stop “arrest then investigate” but must stick strictly to “investigate then arrest” procedures.
 

(16/7/2007)