Bullying their way out of the death in police custody of A Ganapathy

MP slams 'harassment' of Syed Saddiq, wants custodial deaths probed

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok Suh Sim has called on Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to advise the police to stop their questioning of Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and initiate independent probes into the custodial deaths of A Ganapathy and S Sivabalan.

Kok called the police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's (MCMC) investigation on Syed Saddiq over his remarks on the custodial death of Ganapathy, as well as the seizure of his mobile phone "highly improper and high-handed".

"I am also shocked to read the police and MCMC will access his Instagram account as part of an investigation into his comments on the death of Ganapathy.

"What was so wrong about the criticism of Syed Saddiq over the death in police custody of Ganapathy?

"Syed Saddiq was merely doing his duty as an MP. The police ought to have responded to his comments via official media instead of ordering an investigation," she said in a statement.

Kok urged Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah to clarify the role of MCMC in investigating Syed Saddiq and confirm if the minister had ordered the investigation.

MCMC today in a statement denied Syed Saddiq's allegations concerning the seizure of his phone, saying that it was merely providing technical assistance in accordance with the needs of the investigation.

"The rakyat want to know whether the former home minister and current Prime Minister Muhyiddin is serious about police reforms and the setting up of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

"Both Muhyiddin and Saifuddin were in the previous cabinet in the Pakatan Harapan government where establishing IPCMC was one of the key agendas.

"Syed Saddiq’s comment is incidentally, well in line with the policy of the Harapan government," Kok added.

Muhyiddin and Perikatan Nasional (PN) cabinet members and MPs cannot remain quiet over the series of custodial deaths and should take a stand and order a probe into the deaths of Ganapathy and Sivabalan, she said.

Ganapathy was reportedly arrested on Feb 24 to assist in a probe linked to his brother who was wanted by the police. On March 11, the deceased's mother, S Thanaletchumy, claimed that her son was beaten while in custody.

A Ganapathy

The claim was made after she was contacted by a police officer on March 8, only to be informed that her son was freed and being treated at Selayang Hospital's Intensive Care Unit.

Ganapathy died in the hospital on April 18.

The police are also investigating two Malaysiakini journalists over the Ganapathy case.

Gombak police chief Arifai Tarawe threatened to sue Free Malaysia Today for RM10 million after the news portal appeared to link his upcoming transfer to the Ganapathy case.

Yesterday, Klang lawmaker Charles Santiago met with the family of security guard Sivabalan who allegedly died about 70 minutes after he was arrested by Gombak police on May 20.

Charles highlighted three details that he said warranted an inquest into the custodial death issue, although Selangor police chief Arjunaidi Mohamed refuted the existence of discrepancies.