With abuse of power and continued repression of
freedom of speech seemingly on the rise, a group of NGOs want to meet
with Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to demand the resignation of
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar.
This group of civil societies - among them the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0), Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), Amnesty International, Lawyers for Liberty (LFL), student organisations and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) - collectively agreed that Khalid's actions have tarnished the image of the police force.
As part of the strategy to oust Khalid as IGP, Bersih 2.0 chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah (left) said that they will "try and meet" with Zahid to discuss the issue.
"We will actually have to strategise whether it (Khalid's resignation) is going to be demanded through a petition or even ask the home affairs minister for a meeting to present our case as to why we need somebody like this IGP to resign," Maria noted during a joint press conference today.
However, she told Malaysiakini that this attempt to meet with Zahid was still under discussion among the group members.
After Anwar Ibrahim was sentenced to five years’ jail for sodomy on Feb 10, activists and opposition members have been hauled up by the police in a sedition dragnet for their respective comments on the PKR supremo’s trial.
Commenting
on the arrests, Suaram coordinator Syukri Razab emphasised that they
“completely object to the actions of the police” who are abusing their
power in the guise of the law.
“It is astonishing that the IGP is so actively monitoring the social (media) pages of opposition leaders and social activists that they are arrested for making criticisms on Twitter and Facebook.
“Is this the standard duty of a police chief?” Syukri asked during the joint press conference today.
In addition, Michelle Yesudas pointed out - on behalf of LFL - that the United States does not use the social media to intimidate its younger generations.
"Twitter is supposed to be a part of a democratic process. Take a look at (US President Barack) Obama for example, who uses Twitter as a tool to reach out to the younger generation, not to silence them."
Meanwhile, PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan - who was among those arrested - told Malaysiakini that he had been treated very well by the officers at the police station.
According to him, the police had quipped that they were tired of arresting the same people over and over again, and that they wondered when an Umno member would be next.
This group of civil societies - among them the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0), Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), Amnesty International, Lawyers for Liberty (LFL), student organisations and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) - collectively agreed that Khalid's actions have tarnished the image of the police force.
As part of the strategy to oust Khalid as IGP, Bersih 2.0 chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah (left) said that they will "try and meet" with Zahid to discuss the issue."We will actually have to strategise whether it (Khalid's resignation) is going to be demanded through a petition or even ask the home affairs minister for a meeting to present our case as to why we need somebody like this IGP to resign," Maria noted during a joint press conference today.
However, she told Malaysiakini that this attempt to meet with Zahid was still under discussion among the group members.
After Anwar Ibrahim was sentenced to five years’ jail for sodomy on Feb 10, activists and opposition members have been hauled up by the police in a sedition dragnet for their respective comments on the PKR supremo’s trial.
Commenting
on the arrests, Suaram coordinator Syukri Razab emphasised that they
“completely object to the actions of the police” who are abusing their
power in the guise of the law.“It is astonishing that the IGP is so actively monitoring the social (media) pages of opposition leaders and social activists that they are arrested for making criticisms on Twitter and Facebook.
“Is this the standard duty of a police chief?” Syukri asked during the joint press conference today.
In addition, Michelle Yesudas pointed out - on behalf of LFL - that the United States does not use the social media to intimidate its younger generations.
"Twitter is supposed to be a part of a democratic process. Take a look at (US President Barack) Obama for example, who uses Twitter as a tool to reach out to the younger generation, not to silence them."
Meanwhile, PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan - who was among those arrested - told Malaysiakini that he had been treated very well by the officers at the police station.
According to him, the police had quipped that they were tired of arresting the same people over and over again, and that they wondered when an Umno member would be next.
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