IGP versus PM

When I wrote my letter to Malaysiakini titled Axe the clueless IGP, many friends warned me that I might have gone too far in provoking the man in charge of those uniformed thugs, and that I could well be on their hit list.

That may be so, but I feel somewhat vindicated when I read that Aliran, Suaram and Hakam have all jointly called for the IGP, Mohd Bakri Omar, to be sacked if he continues to reject the proposal to set-up the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

I feel they have been too kind in not demanding the IGP be sacked immediately. That bloke has been in open defiance of the PM on the matter of the IPCMC. There’s no further excuse. He has to be dismissed straightaway.

I recall during the Squatgate incident his deputy was equally remiss of public service proprietary when he kept contradicting the DPM on that issue. The problem is the police has gone out of control.

Unless the PM shows some backbone by sacking the recalcitrant and insubordinate IGP and his deputy, he will lose control of an organization that may see Malaysia as a truly policed state. The 3 organizations, Aliran, Suaram and Hakam agreed with KTemoc, saying: "His stance is also a reflection of a police force that is increasingly becoming uncontrollable and unaccountable to anyone in the country."

The other issue is of course the PM's integrity and his word of honour. If he allows the IGP to sidetrack him from his promise to the Malaysian people to establish the IPCMC, especially in the light of 0.5 Squatgate-60 [0.5 for the threat of naked ear squat and 60 for the 60 year old lady], where then should he put his face?

There is no further doubt that the IGP has been openly DEFIANT towards the PM’s wish to establish the IPCMC, which is now more needed than ever.

It would save the PM lots of face if that bloke has the decency to resign, but I doubt he would do that, given his appalling conduct.

Not that the PM or the IGP care, but Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang has echoed our call for Bakri’ to resign. Together with the 3 social organizations, they said what I had said in my previous posting [letter to Malaysiakini]:

"The only honourable way out for him (Bakri) is to resign to express his opposition and not to be guilty of insubordination by wearing the uniform of the IGP to openly go against the authority of the prime minister and cabinet."

“Bakri was setting a dangerous precedent undermining the important principle in a parliamentary democracy that the public service, including the police, must be subject to civilian oversight, accountability and authority.”

“The police chief should have exercised responsible leadership to help convince his personnel that the IPCMC was not a ‘police-bashing’ conspiracy, said the veteran politician.”

"The IGP should convince his personnel that the IPCMC is an important formula to restore public confidence in the Malaysian police.”

But instead, we saw the IGP playing on the tudung and conspiracy issues, to gain the support of UMNO MPs in suggesting to them that supporters of the IPCMC have an ulterior motive to humiliate and demoralise the police.

Lim said that the IGP’s accusations was not only baseless and misplaced, but also cast a most unworthy and dishonourable aspersion on the integrity, character and motives of members sitting in the Royal Police Commission who proposed the establishment of the IPCMC.

He continued: "Bakri and others can disagree with the IPCMC proposal but they should never impugn the integrity, honour and patriotism of the Royal Police commissioners and Malaysians who support the IPCMC as such support is motivated by the best interests for the police force and the nation."