ID :
32648
Thu, 11/27/2008 - 21:02
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/32648
The shortlink copeid
POLICE UNBIASED IN THE ARRESTS OF PROTESTORS, SAYS HOME MINISTER
PUTRAJAYA, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar came to the defence of the police Wednesday, saying they were unbiased with regard to two public gatherings in Kuala Lumpur last Sunday.
Syed Hamid said the police were impartial when they detained several
supporters of an anti-ISA (Internal Security Act) campaign in Kuala Lumpur city,
but allowed supporters of the Heritage Associations, Malay Cultural
Organisations and Related Bodies Cooperation Network (Pewaris) to stage a
pro-ISA rally and a march along Jalan Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur to the Jalan Tun
Razak police station.
"I don't think there is double standard. If you apply for it (permit for a
gathering), the police allow it and then you can have the rally. If the police
don't allow (it), you don't have the rally," he told reporters after
officiating at the ministry's Quality and Integrity Day, here.
He said the anti-ISA protestors were arrested because they had organised an
illegal gathering, without a police permit. The police had earlier confirmed
that the Pewaris gathering and march was carried out with a police
permit.
Syed Hamid said it was unnecessary for the people to demonstrate to voice
their views because there were many other channels to raise their
grievances.
Why must you introduce this culture of demonstrating on the streets? When
you start to demonstrate, other people demonstrate (as well). It is a reaction;
so the best thing is to avoid.
"We need to ensure that safety and security are there. We should not give
the impression to people that this country is in chaos. That scares away
business. That's not good for our country," he said.
Meanwhile, Syed Hamid said the ministry was considering the possibility of
extending the Immigration Department counter service to Saturday and Sunday,
especially to facilitate passport matters.
He also said that the ministry was looking into increasing the number of
staff for the department to handle the backlog of cases involving application
for citizenship.
"I have set a target of six months to resolve this matter. We process about
5,000 applications in one month, and we need more staff for that," he said.
On another matter, Syed Hamid said Malaysia was in 20th position on a list
of 181 countries on the World Bank index of countries most comfortable do
business in.
As such, he said, it was improper for anyone, including the opposition, to
tarnish the country's image by spreading untruths such as the country being
unstable and so on.
"I do not think this will help our efforts to draw investors. Our political
position is stable and our security is ensured. Of course we have problems
sometimes like crime but that is not something which we cannot handle.
"Here, we have to be bipartisan in facing the global economic problem. We
should not politicise things in terms of security, public order, national
politics ... this shouldn't be the way we promote our country," he said.
-- BERNAMA
Syed Hamid said the police were impartial when they detained several
supporters of an anti-ISA (Internal Security Act) campaign in Kuala Lumpur city,
but allowed supporters of the Heritage Associations, Malay Cultural
Organisations and Related Bodies Cooperation Network (Pewaris) to stage a
pro-ISA rally and a march along Jalan Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur to the Jalan Tun
Razak police station.
"I don't think there is double standard. If you apply for it (permit for a
gathering), the police allow it and then you can have the rally. If the police
don't allow (it), you don't have the rally," he told reporters after
officiating at the ministry's Quality and Integrity Day, here.
He said the anti-ISA protestors were arrested because they had organised an
illegal gathering, without a police permit. The police had earlier confirmed
that the Pewaris gathering and march was carried out with a police
permit.
Syed Hamid said it was unnecessary for the people to demonstrate to voice
their views because there were many other channels to raise their
grievances.
Why must you introduce this culture of demonstrating on the streets? When
you start to demonstrate, other people demonstrate (as well). It is a reaction;
so the best thing is to avoid.
"We need to ensure that safety and security are there. We should not give
the impression to people that this country is in chaos. That scares away
business. That's not good for our country," he said.
Meanwhile, Syed Hamid said the ministry was considering the possibility of
extending the Immigration Department counter service to Saturday and Sunday,
especially to facilitate passport matters.
He also said that the ministry was looking into increasing the number of
staff for the department to handle the backlog of cases involving application
for citizenship.
"I have set a target of six months to resolve this matter. We process about
5,000 applications in one month, and we need more staff for that," he said.
On another matter, Syed Hamid said Malaysia was in 20th position on a list
of 181 countries on the World Bank index of countries most comfortable do
business in.
As such, he said, it was improper for anyone, including the opposition, to
tarnish the country's image by spreading untruths such as the country being
unstable and so on.
"I do not think this will help our efforts to draw investors. Our political
position is stable and our security is ensured. Of course we have problems
sometimes like crime but that is not something which we cannot handle.
"Here, we have to be bipartisan in facing the global economic problem. We
should not politicise things in terms of security, public order, national
politics ... this shouldn't be the way we promote our country," he said.
-- BERNAMA
