Harakahdaily

PETALING JAYA, April 30: DAP veteran and Ipoh Timur MP Lim Kit Siang has condemned the statement by inspector-general of police Musa Hassan (pic) for threatening to call-off his men from the streets over the outcry in the police shooting of a 15-year old teenager.

"This is a most disgraceful statement from the IGP as it tantamounts to an open and public insurbodination against the Malaysian people who pay for his salary," said Lim, and urged Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to declare whether he had given the green-light to Musa to "make such an outrageous statement and threat and what action he proposes to take to discipline Musa."

Musa, angered over the flurry of condemnations against the police force over the shooting of Aminulrasyid Hamzah on April 26, has been reported today as saying that he could ask his men to stop patrolling the streets "if that was what the people wanted."

"If you do not want the police to enforce the law, then say so," the police chief was reported as saying by The Star today. "I can tell my men to not take any action, including conduct inspections on vehicles or arrest Mat Rempit who ride without licences."

Lim said Musa’s threats "have transgressed acceptable and tolerable limits and is a great disservice to the majority of police personnel who are disciplined, conscientious and hardworking."

Lim also reminded that it was not the first time Musa had challenged the public and the government.

"Musa was involved in the public challenge of the previous Prime Minister threatening a police revolt if the proposal of the Dzaiddin Police Royal Commission to set up an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to create an efficient, incorruptible, professional and world-class police service was implemented," he said.

He described Musa as failing to take heed of the trend around the world whereby the police forces in developed nations were subjected to principles of public responsibility and accountability.

Saying Musa had overstayed his welcome, Lim called for his immediate resignation.

"The country cannot wait until September when Musa’s tenure expires. Malaysians need a new IGP who can inspire public confidence in the professionalism of the police force to fight crime and restore to Malaysians their two fundamental rights to be free from crime and the fear of crime," he stressed.