Ops 'Tiga Monyet Bijak'

This is sheer misuse of police resources and nothing more than a reflection of UMNO leaders’ media clamp-down policy in the wake of Typhoon Mahathir.

It seems the police have started their investigations into a possible case of defamation by Malaysiakini which had published an earlier article about suspected police special operations squad being possibly involved in the Kota Baru ‘spray attack’ on Dr Mahathir Mohamad and ex-UMNO strongman Ibrahim Ali last week. Malaysiakini had followed up with a clarifying article which carries an apology for the initial article.

Kelantan acting CID chief Shafie Ismail said the state police was being assisted by IT experts from the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters.

He claimed: “We need the services of technology experts to trace those responsible in producing the report which has been classified as slandering the police.”

Why would they need IT experts? Just pull up those Malaysiakini articles!

Shafie said the online media’s report was defamatory. A few days ago, the police lodged a report against Malaysiakini regarding the alleged defamatory article. The case is being investigated under the Penal Code for criminal defamation, which carries a two-year jail term, or fine or both upon conviction.

The reality is throughout the western world, which practises democracy, the police don’t bother with such actions. The sort of accusations, that the public or press would regularly hurl at police would be merely repudiated (or accepted) by the police spokesperson or even the Police Minister.

Public or press criticism of a public service is a norm of democracy, and shouldn’t be threatened with legal actions based on the police own investigation. The police shouldn't be so thin skin, as being criticised by the public or press comes with the territory of being a public service. In fact, AAB as the Internal Security Minister should immediately instruct the police to stop the misuse of its time, which should be better invested in solving crimes.

The crime rate is alarmingly disgusting. We have just witnessed the shocking robbery-cum-murder of a TARC student last Saturday in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, which was followed five minutes later by another robbery of yet another TARC student. We have heard of Setapak's citizens accusing the police of uncooperative response to reports of snatch thefts. That's where the police should be devoting their resorces to, instead of harrassing the 4th estate.

But as we know, such an unprecedented police action could only come on with political instruction. The action against Malaysiakini is just part of the ongoing government campaign to silence any media or Internet conduit for Dr Mahathir.

The government wants the media to be like the 3 wise monkeys, seeing, hearing and saying not when things aren't favourable to the authority. And if any refuses to stay that way, one would be treated like a chook meant for the pot to frighten the other monkeys.