Media Statement (3) by Lim Kit Siang in Petaling Jaya on Tuesday, 14^th July 2009: 

Hishammuddin must present his case why he and the Police Force Commission backs Musa Hassan’s extension for IGP

Malaysian Insider reported yesterday that the Police Force Commission, which is constitutionally responsible for the appointment and emplacement of members of the police force, has backed a second extension of the service of Tan Sri Musa Hassan as the country’s Inspector-General of Police in September.

The commission comprise members who are top current and retired civil servants and the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

Hishammuddin should present his case to the Malaysian public why he and the Police Force Commission backs Musa’s extension for IGP, when Musa has such a dismal record as the nation’s top police officer when judged by the Police Royal Commission Report which submitted 125 recommendations to create an efficient, incorruptible, professional world-class police service with the three core functions to keep crime low, eradicate corruption and uphold human rights.

One hundred reasons could be advanced why Musa should not have his extended term of IGP renewed in September as he had failed in all the three core functions spelt out by the Dzaiddin Police Royal Commission to keep crime low, eradicate corruption and uphold human rights.

Can Hishammuddin’s reasons to support Musa’s extension as IGP so strong and incontrovertible that they can withstand the most rigorous public scrutiny or are they so weak and flimsy that Hishammuddin dare not make them public?

Bernama today reported Musa as saying that the police will give priority to stamping out street crimes, in line with the government commitment to reduce crime and corruption. He said drastic measures would be taken to address the problem to ensure public safety and security.

Why did Musa only wake up from what should be the No. 1 responsibility of the police when he is lobbying for another term of IGP?

Musa’s belated awakening of the urgent need to check and roll back the galloping crime in the country, particularly street crimes, is too little and too late - at least four years too late after the Dzaiddin Police Royal Commission Report in May 2005!

Let me refresh Hishammuddin and Musa to the Dzaiddin Royal Police Commission report in May 2005 which had expressed alarm at the “high incidence of crime”, when it noted:

“The incidence of crime increased dramatically in the last few years, from 121,176 cases in 1997 to 156,465 cases in 2004, an increase of 29 per cent. The increase seriously dented Malaysia’s reputation as a safe country. Malaysians in general, the business sector and foreign investors grew increasingly concerned with the situation. The fear was that, if the trend continues, there would be major social and economic consequences for Malaysia. A survey of 575 respondents from the public carried out by the Commission clearly demonstrates the extremely widespread concern among all ethnic groups and foreign residents. Between 82.2 per cent and 90 per cent of the respondents, or 8 to 9 persons in every 10, were concerned with the occurrence of crime.”

The Dzaiddin Police Royal Commission recommended an immediate action plan and target to reduce the incidence of crime by a minimum of 20 per cent within 12 months of the Report’s acceptance and implementation.

Instead of a reduction of a minimum of 20 per cent, i.e. bringing the incidence of crime to 125,172 cases in 12 months from 154,465 cases, crime galloped and shot past the 200,000 barrier to reach 209,582 cases in 2007 and 211,645 cases in 2008.

This means that in the four years from 154,465 cases in 2004, the crime index soared by 39% to reach 211,645 cases in 2008 – totally contrary to Dzaiddin Police Royal Commission target proposing a 20% reduction of the crime index within 12 months!

If this is not a failure, what is it? If IGP Musa is not to be held responsible for this failure, who else?

In September 2006, I had congratulated Musa for his appointment as IGP but he has failed the nation and people.

Musa is lobbying for another term of as IGP. Does he know or understand the concept of democratic policing, as enunciated in the Commonwealth Human Rights Report on Police Accountability in 2005 and the United Nations International Police Task Force Report 1996? But this is another long story and another sorry tale by Musa as IGP.

Is the Royal Malaysian Police so short of quality officers that there is not a single serving top police officer who could be entrusted with the baton of IGP?

*Lim Kit Siang, DAP Parliamentary leader & MP for Ipoh Timor