Hisham: Probe into `police brutality' lies

M. Hamzah Jamaludin
New Straits Times
07-24-2011
Hisham: Probe into `police brutality' lies
Byline: M. Hamzah Jamaludin
Edition: New Sunday Times
Section: Main Section

KUANTAN: Police and the Attorney-General's Chambers should take action against those who spread lies about police brutality against demonstrators during the illegal Bersih 2.0 rally, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

He said action should also be taken against those who posted baseless allegations against enforcement agencies on the Internet.
"We are prepared this time around as we know their intention. The police have all the recordings and they will also investigate the lies in cyberspace."

He said this after opening the Prisons Department's Community Rehabilitation Centre at the Batu 10 Army camp near here yesterday.

He said police would release more video footage soon to refute claims made by the opposition and Bersih supporters against the authorities.

"They should take responsibility for their actions and words as no one is above the law."

He said rally supporters had claimed the police were cruel and had caused someone to die when dealing with demonstrators.

"It's in their nature to make slanderous statements. They should stop it."

Hishammuddin said it was a desperate move by the opposition to detract attention from their problems, including the sex video involving Parti Keadilan Rakyat de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He said the authorities would never forget the main issue and police would take action against Anwar if it was proven that he had lodged a false report on the sex video.

Asked why police took almost two weeks before releasing the footage on the rally, he said the force had to study the footage and confirm it was genuine before they could air it.

"They cannot simply upload video clippings without verifying them."

He said the opposition would continue tarnishing the country's image, especially after Malaysia was ranked the most peaceful country in Southeast Asia and the 19th safest and most peaceful in the world by the Global Peace Index.

"By creating chaos, they can deny the ranking given by the international body and the achievements made by the government."

On the community rehabilitation centre, he said the government would consider building more such facilities after studying the success of five centres built in army camps since March.

The centre places petty criminals in low-security detention centres in army camps.

(Copyright 2011)