Stop abusing the role of Special Branch
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has said yesterday that he has not received any performance and popularity report from the police on the state’s elected representatives.
Former Gerakan Exco member, Dr Toh Kim Woon has 2 days ago told the Bersih People’s Tribunal that the Special Branch would convey such reports to the then Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon. These were then used as input to improve BN’s standing during elections.
That the Special Branch has not provided such reports to the Penang state government shows that the Police which must be politically neutral and act professionally have treated BN and Pakatan Rakyat led state governments differently.
But the serious and important question that has arisen and must be answered by the Home Minister is – why should the Special Branch be involved in such non related Police work?
In the PDRM website, the Objective, Vision and Mission of Special Branch are stated as below:
Objective
Duty and responsibility of Special Branch is to collate and analyse security intelligence in upholding law and public order whilst maintaining peace and security.
Vision and Mission
To become a modern intelligence agency, competent, respected, integrity and be the main intelligence organization in maintaining the nation peace, order and security.
Certainly the performance and popularity of elected representatives cannot be the duty of the Special Branch.
The practice of collecting such reports is an abuse of the role of Special Branch and a misuse of precious Police resources.
Malaysia is now faced with the serious phenomenon of increased crime rate and fear of crime.
Hence, I call on the Home Minister Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to stop BN government’s abuse of the role of the Special Branch and to direct that the excess Special Branch personnel be deployed to help combat crime to bring back public peace and confidence.
