Ipoh police raided the Perak DAP State premises and took away some 5,000 copies of the “No to 911, No to 929,Yes to 1957” pamphlet


Media Conference Statement 2
by Lim Kit Siang

(Petaling Jaya,  Thursday)At about 4.45 p.m. today, the Ipoh police conducted an one-hour raid of  the Perak DAP State  premises with  a 20-strong contingent headed by ASP Roslan and armed with a search warrant, took away some 5,000 copies of the “No to 911, No to 929, Yes to 1957” pamphlet.  

This afternoon, UMNO Youth lodged a police report in Ipoh against the DAP’s “No to 911, No to 929, Yes to 1957” pamphlets. 

I had phoned the Perak Chief Police Officer, Datuk Amiruddin, protesting against the police raid and crossing an important line where the police stay above party political fray, and do not allow themselves to be made used of by ruling political parties against the Opposition – as in raiding party offices and premises unless grave crimes are involved, which clearly is not the case here.  

Would the police immediately raid the UMNO headquarters and state premises if the DAP lodges police reports against them?  

I had earlier tried to contact the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Norian Mai, but was told that he is overseas.  I was also unable to contact the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, as he is said to be in Sabah.  

The police should cherish  its good name and reputation as  “black eyes” like the unprecedented raid of opposition party premises with an excessive show of force will only feed the national and international scandal about the lack of professionalism of the Malaysian police.  

I do not know where the  IGP has gone to, but in the era of IT, he should know immediately what is happening in Ipoh, and I call on him to stop the Ipoh police  from going overboard in the abuse of their police powers.  

Similarly, I call on the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the former  from Rome, to put a stop to the Ipoh police abuse of powers.  

The outrageous police raid of the Perak DAP premises will not deter me from continuing with my programme to take part in the launch of the “No to 911, No to 929, Yes to 1957” campaign at the Menglembu market in Ipoh tomorrow at 8.30 a.m. to distribute the campaign pamphlets.

(6/6/2002)


*Lim Kit Siang - DAP National Chairman