Ex-IGP: Enough evidence to reopen Bala's SD2 probe

There is sufficient evidence to reopen the investigation into private investigator P Balasubramaniam's second statutory declaration (SD2), former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan said today.

"The person involved, I think this is new evidence... If there is new evidence then investigations should be re-opened," Musa told a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.

He said this when asked for his evaluation whether the claim by lawyer Americk Sidhu (right) that Cecil Abraham was responsible for Balasubramaniam's second SD was enough to re-open police investigation into the matter.
Malaysiakini had approached Cecil but the senior lawyer had declined to comment.

Balasubramaniam's second SD, which disclaims his first one signed a day earlier that links now caretaker premier Najib Abdul Razak to murdered Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu, was said to have been drafted under duress.

Musa's successor, current IGP Ismail Omar, had said police would not re-open the investigation if it was "something old being said in a new way", unless there truly was new evidence.

"I don't know what he meant when he said ‘old things said in a new way'. But why not (re-open investigation)? There is new evidence," Musa said.
On a separate matter, Musa (right in photo) noted that there had been an increased in public shootings.

“There were random shootings in Johor Baru, people eating at a restaurant in Penang were shot at, in Seremban, a police officer’s house was shot at, I view this very seriously. If it’s so easy to shoot people, then we’re becoming like Mexico,” he said.

He added this frequency of public shootings was not seen during his tenure.

Asked if he had an explanation, he replied: “If you let illegal activities spread, of course you will face more (gang) fights for territory until they become emboldened that they are daring enough to attack the police.”

“As long as activities like gambling, prostitution, human trafficking, gangsterism, loan sharks are allowed to rule, eventually they will not be afraid of police any more,” he added.

Musa acknowledged that there could also be weaknesses in curbing arm smuggling that led to possession of these weapons.

'Intelligence failure'

On another matter, Musa said the police should investigate claims that there were local politicians involved in the Lahad Datu incursion by Filipino intruders.

“Investigation should be done, there should be proof, just simply making accusations is inappropriate, that would be slander,” he said.

Weighing in on the conflict, Musa said it was well-managed, albeit being delayed too long by the government.

However, he said ultimately, there was an intelligence failure that allowed the intruders to penetrate the country’s borders.

“I don’t know if the Special Branch received any information beforehand, but failure to act even if there is such information still counts as an intelligence failure.

“For example, the Americans had intelligence that the Japanese were going to attack Pearl Harbour but they did not believe and did not act on it, therefore there was an intelligence failure,” he said.

Musa urged the formation of a committee to investigate how eight police officers were killed during the clashes in Sabah.

“Section 39 of the Police Act requires an investigation committee to be formed when there is loss of life or accidents among the police force, be it on duty or off duty or when there is loss of government property.

“This should be set up so that it will serve as a lesson and will not happen again,” he said.