Kapar MP hits back at unfair media report on crime

In Kapar, the ratio of police to residents is 1:2000, so how can he be blamed for 'worsening' gangsterism? asks Kapar MP S Manikavasagam.

PETALING JAYA: A Pakatan Rakyat MP has lodged a police report against the New Straits Times over an article linking him to the problem of gangsterism in Kapar.

Kapar MP, S Manikavasagam, lodged the report against the national daily and its reporter at 11.30am here at the Klang district police station, urging the police and Home Ministry to take stern action.

Manikavasagam, who was accompanied by a dozen PKR members, claimed the NST report was politically motivated. He claimed it was instigated by someone from within PKR to tarnish his reputation among the residents of Kapar.

“What NST has done is irresponsible and goes against journalistic ethics. I will file a defamation suit against NST and the reporter,” he told FMT.

Yesterday, NST published a news report on Kapar titled “Gangsterism, main worry of Kapar folk”, claiming that Manikavasagam had “worsened” the problem by bailing out the suspects.

Manikavasagam denied the allegation and challenged both NST and the reporter to reveal the “list of suspects” bailed out by him as alleged.

He also expressed his suspicion on the source of the article.

“As the general election nears, someone is trying very hard to sideline me from Kapar. I am very sure the news was planted by a PKR man,” he added.

However, Manikavasagam refused to reveal who that “someone” was, except to say that it was a “party internal matter”.

Only two police stations

When asked to elaborate on the crime allegations, Manikavasagam said that the key reason was inadequate police force.

“There are only two police stations in Kapar, which caused a lot of problems in the constituency with about 142,000 voters.

“This is a large constituency and the current ratio of police to population is one is to 2,000.

“How are you going to handle such a large constituency with two police stations?” he asked.

Manikavasagam said he had sent several letters on the issue to the top police officers urging them to increase the number of police personnel here, but todate there has been no response.

“The police are under the federal government. They should take action to solve the gangsterism issue here. I have raised the issue in Parliament so many times, ” he said.

He also expressed disappointment with the Home Ministry for deliberately overlooking Kapar since Pakatan took over the state in 2008.

Signature campaign

Meanwhile, NGOs in Kapar have begun a signature campaign urging PKR’s top leadership to allow incumbent Manikavasagam to defend his seat in the 13th general election.

The NGOs pledged to give their support to Pakatan if Manickavasagam was retained.

It is learnt that some 2,000 residents have already signed the petition.

It was reported that PKR has decided to replace Manikavasagam in Kapar with Selangor executive councillor Dr Xavier Jayakumar.

PKR is planning to field Manikavasagam in the Bukit Melawati state seat.