Press Statement by Karpal Singh in Kuala Lumpur on
Tuesday, 7th October 2008:
Complete breakdown in law and
order in Malaysia?
Datuk S Krishnasamy, former Johore
Tenggaroh State Assemblyman and Johore MIC Deputy Chief was brutally
murdered on 11th January, 2008 at about 2.20 pm in the lift in the MIC
building in Johore Bahru. He was shot point blank in the eye.
Datuk Krishnasamy was active in politics for more than 30 years and
contributed tremendously to the public. He was responsible for building
temples, schools and even helped in the building of mosques in Johore.
Since his murder by a gunman, several suspects, including some from the
MIC itself, had been arrested, but released on police bail and
presumably are still on police bail.
There appears to have been a political motive for the murder.
The police have been unhelpful to the family in providing for an
in-depth and thorough investigation. They have no one to turn to assist
in their predicament. Even the MIC leadership has distanced itself from
the family leaving it in a pathetic and distraught state.
Hardly a day passes in the country when there is no murder. Many
high-profile cases, including the murder of Dr Joe Fernandez and
recently the murder of Penang lawyer, Datuk S P Annamalai, have yet to
be so1ved. In fact, even the murder of the late IGP Datuk Abdul Rahman
Hashirn, which occurred as far back as 1974 in broad daylight in Kuala
Lumpur, has yet to be solved.
I wish to know the number of suspects who were arrested in respect of
Datuk Krishnasamy’s murder. I understand recently, a prime suspect
arrested by the police was released, re-arrested under the Emergency
(Public Order & Prevention of Crime) Ordinance, 1969 and even released
thereafter from detention.
I wish to know why the police are unable to solve Datuk Krishnasamy’s
murder.
There appears to be a complete loss of law and order in the country. The
more murders remain unsolved, the more would-be murderers are emboldened
into committing crimes of violence leading to the effect of deterrence
being minimal.
If our police force is ill-equipped to solve serious crimes, including
murders in the country, this will lead to ultimate complete breakdown in
law and order. The Government must give first priority to this sad state
of affairs. Public confidence in the police force now is at its lowest
ebb. With sophisticated measures to combat crime, including DNA, I
cannot understand why the police are unable to effectively solve the
rampant crimes
committed in the courifry.
I call upon the Government to enlist the services of the police in
Singapore which is well-equipped with modern techniques to combat crime.
Singapore has a police force of international caliber and credentials.
Singapore is our close neighbour and was at one time a component part of
Malaysia. We must admit stern and effective measures are required to
ensure the protection of every citizen in the country. It is the
Government’s duty to provide effective protection.
I will be taking up this matter in Parliament when it resumes sitting on
13th October and I hope I will get a positive response from the Minister
of Home Affairs as to the apparent inability of the police to have, up
to now, being unable to trace Datuk Krishnasamy’s killer and also those
who were accessories before the fact. Datuk Krishnasamy’s murder
obviously was not the act of a lone killer. To my mind, personalities in
high places are responsible for the act of the gunman resulting in Datuk
Krishnasamy’s murder. The police should act without fear or favour. The
police should show more professionalism in solving crime. There have
been numerous cases of hitmen getting away with murder of late.
Early this year, a live bullet was sent to me by post. Up to now, there
has been no effective investigation to apprehend those responsible for
having tried to intimidate me.
Recently, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok’s family home was pelted with molotov
cocktails. Here, again there was an attempt to intimidate a politician
in carrying out her duties.
If the present trend of lawlessness is not effectively countered, we are
at risk of losing foreign tourists and foreign investment which we can
ill-afford, particularly so, in view of the creeping recession. The
national budget provides for a substantial fund to the police. These
funds ought to be meaningfully used to ensure peace and security in the
country.
* Karpal Singh, DAP National Chairman & MP for Bukit
Gelugor
http://dapmalaysia.org