IGP Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar should refrain from threatening people who criticise him.
He has threatened Mariam Mokhtar with criminal prosecution, in particular sedition, for her post entitled ‘One ideology, two reactions’.
This is most unbecoming of Khalid. There is no need to resort to bullying people who criticise. He should also not abuse his position by issuing threats against them. As IGP he has no business to focus attacks on individuals who question him.
Being the IGP, he must be prepared to face criticism over the way in which he conducts himself and handles issues of interest to the public. If he cannot understand this, he should resign.
A reading of the article reflects a reasonable analysis of two situations somewhat similar factually but drawing different reactions by the police and the government. How is making that point even by the greatest stretch of the imagination seditious?
How is the calling upon Khalid and the Malaysian government to show compassion to all Malaysians and not merely a select few seditious?
This is again a classic example of how it is sedition laws can be abused and used to suppress criticism and dissent.
Also, do we see double standards being applied here?
We note that the IGP has warned Mariam Mokhtar saying “Don’t publish just to attract people to visit your website. That can also be an invitation for us (police) to come and apprehend you”.
So the IGP now says where the police feel something is wrong, they can “come and apprehend” the suspect?
What about the statutory declaration made over alleged corrupt practices and misconduct in the case of Pulau Batu Puteh recently?
What about allegations made in a statutory declaration which may have had an impact on a high profile murder trial in Shah Alam recently, more so where both accused have been acquitted by the Court of Appeal recently?
What about the numerous and consistant open attacks against religion and hate speech made by various quarters of late clearly creating much uneasiness amongst Malaysians?
Why don’t the police or the IGP feel “invited” to go and apprehend those responsible in these cases as well?
With this at the forefront, it should be no surprise to Khalid to see criticism coming his way.
Khalid must stop the threats. If there are criticisms, he must focus on the issue and instead respond with intellect.