Opposition MPs spared no punches when they described Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid
Hamidi and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar’s explanation on the missing firearms as “ridiculous and idiotic".The 2012 Auditor General Report, which was released this week, revealed that the police force had lost RM1.33 million worth of equipment, including 44 guns and 29 vehicles.
The opposition was convinced the missing firearms were related to the recent spike in violent crime and shootings.
Khalid moved swiftly the same day to defend his men, saying the 44 missing firearms could have "fallen into the sea" from boats, thus making it difficult to recover.
Seputeh MP Teresa Kok (pic), who heads the DAP crime action task force, did not mince her words when she described Khalid's explanation as “idiotic”.
She told The Malaysian Insider today that despite the firearms going missing between 2010 and 2012, the police are only now hastily coming up with an explanation.
"How does Khalid know that they fell into the ocean? Would any Malaysian in his right mind accept such a lame and unjustified explanation?" Kok asked, lambasting the police for making excuses to deflect attention from their inefficiencies.
She also attacked Ahmad Zahid, saying he and Khalid behaved like brothers. She cited the manner in which the both of them pushed through the changes to the Prevention of Crime Act in Parliament, ignoring the Attorney-General and civil society.
"The PCA is an excellent example of both Khalid and Ahmad Zahid working hand in hand and bulldozing whatever they think is correct," Kok said.
DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke, meanwhile, said Khalid's statement was ridiculous.
"How can the Inspector-General of Police come up with this kind of explanation? A missing bullet, let alone an entire firearm, is a very serious matter and the police should be accountable to the public," Loke told The Malaysian Insider.
"The least Khalid can do is to form a high-powered task force to probe the issue and determine the cause of the firearms going missing. Another question which needs to be answered is how such a thing occurred within the police force in the first place.”
Loke said he was speechless when Ahmad Zahid supported Khalid by describing his explanation as being very transparent.
Professor P. Sundramoorthy from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) said he was appalled at the reason given by the nation's top cop for the missing weapons, pointing out that it was obvious there were weaknesses within the police force in terms of handling firearms.
"One or two missing firearms can be explained but 44 missing firearms? I hope this does not reflect the efficiency of the police in terms of handling and caring for firearms," said Sundramoorthy.
"The police must be accountable for the missing firearms because there are very strict and severe laws in Malaysia governing the use and possession of firearms. While on duty, a policeman who has been issued a firearm is responsible for it," he added, stressing on the need for serious action taken against those who lose police property.
Sundramoorthy said the public would be disappointed that the country's number one policeman gave such a lame excuse to explain the disappearance of 44 firearms.
He hoped the entire issue would be thoroughly investigated and a proper explanation given to the public. - October 3, 2013.
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