Media Statement by Ngeh Koo Ham in Ipoh on Monday, 12^th April 2010:

Police must also observe law

I am deeply sadden that the media and the people of Perak is focusing this morning on the police investigation against me purportedly for sedition. BN Perak Government has successfully diverted the people’s attention by using the police force. The media and the people should be focusing on the 216 questions raised by the PR elected representatives in the State Assembly which concern the Perak State and the people of Perak. The people of Perak wants to know if the BN Perak Government has approved or intents to approve 14,000 hectare of land to Rahman Hydraulic Tin Bhd for tin prospecting, why timber concessions in the State are not open for tender and the list of persons or companies who were approved land in the last one year since BN grabbed power in the State. There were hosts of other issues that affect the people of Perak which the Perak BN Government must answer.

The primary duty of the police is to maintain law and order. They should be going after criminals but in Perak they have been used by BN to act against Pakatan Rakyat elected representatives. The police instead of answering my demand and the demand of the people that the police stay clear of the Perak State Assembly, now choose to act against me. I will continue with my demand that the police cease to descend in large numbers at the Perak State Assembly or its precincts when the State Assembly sits as it interfered with the independence of the State Assembly. I also question why the Police Force Commission has not commenced its investigation into the conduct of the Perak Police force when so many police reports have been lodge against them? I will continue with my struggle to uphold the democratic institutions of this country to ensure Perak and Malaysia will not become a police state.

This morning I also demand that police must follow the law. The Federal Court in Authony Gomez v Ketua Polis Daerah Kuantan 2MLJ 24 which were also followed in subsequent cases very clearly decided that a person who has any interest in a first information document including a police report is entitled to a copy of the document. Unless a police report is supplied to me I will not be able to give a proper statement to the police as I will not be able to answer in the proper context. I am also demanding this right for the Malaysian public because a person who is called to give a statement or arrested must know why he is called or arrested.

The police have promised me many months ago to get an opinion from the Attorney General’s office but till date has not done so. I call on them to get the legal opinion immediately if they are still of the opinion that the police report cannot be given to me.

* Ngeh Koo Ham, Perak DAP Chairman; MP for Beruas & State Assemblyman for Sitiawan