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Statement by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong on the response of Malaysian Government towards allegations of police brutality in the Jalan Kebun (Klang) assembly on November 5 2000. 11.12. 2000

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On 28 Noivember 2000, the MP for Kuala Kedah Mohd Sabu tabled a motion to cut the Home Minister's pay by RM 10 during the debate on the budgetary allocations of RM 3.877 billion for the ministry. The Honourable member has been unhappy with the behaviour of the police when thousands of people congregated at Jalan Kebu, Klang, Selangor on November 5, 2000.

Mohd Sabu listed 24 people who were injured by the police during the incident. They alleged police brutality.

In his reply, the Deputy Home Minister Dato' Zainal Abidin bin Zin said that the assembly was illegal. If the police felt that the assembly could be controlled and safe, they would have allowed it.

He pointed out that they had to deploy 800 policemen to handle the demonstration and illegal assembly. Just imagine when there were only 82,000 policemen in the country. "Just think about using this energy to do meaningless work after we had told them not to do it, but they still did," he added.

According to Datuk Zainal, they were afraid of the local people complaining to the police. Then, the vacant land at Jalan Kebun was not big enough to accommodate 100,000 people. So, to prevent chaos, the police did not allow the situation (the assembly).

We need the rule of law. But, we also need laws that will allow peaceful assembly. If repeated applications are rejected, then what is the meaning of the rule of law. The ruling Barisan Nasional, BN, was allowed to have a big rally at the national stadium at Bukit Jalil, why couldn't the Opposition, Barisan Alternatif, BA, be allowed the same opportunity. If BN leaders speak at length in radio and television, why can't BA leaders do likewise? Why can't we have laws that give opportunities to BN and BA?

We require police to keep the peace and security of the country and to meet the challenges of the modern world. But, there should be scrutiny of police work. We have heard complaints of some sections of the police force riddled with corruption and blind to proper procedure.

We must investigate fully the allegations of police brutality. Any member of the police or of the public starting the violence should be punished.

Modern policing means resources. But, we lack money and personnel. For example, we need time and money to train police officers in commercial crimes - fraud and white-collar crimes. After acquiring the expertise, they can then go to the private sector where they can have higher income.

With 82,000 policemen, can they police patrol neighbourhood streets? Can they keep an eye every night on over 70 landing points for illegal immigrants in the country? What do we do with low-level policing work such as noise, minor domestic complaints and traffic offences? With the advent of e-commerce and k-economy, computer crimes will soar. Do we have enough police experts to deal with them?

Truly, we must have Police Commission that is open, transparent and accountable to handle al the complaints against the police. This commission should be fair to the police and the public. For example, such a commission can investigate the allegations of police brutality at the above-stated assembly.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw