KUALA LUMPUR: PKR MP for Bayan Baru, Sim Tze Tzin today urged the police to focus on reducing crime rate instead of harassing the opposition politicians. He said this at a press conference outside the Sentul police station when he and student activist Adam Adli’s father, Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid were called in to give their statements in relation to a protest on June 24.
“We were interrogated by the investigating officer under the Public Assembly Act 2012 (PAA) merely to record our statements in regards to the gathering in front of the Jinjang police station on June 24,” said Sim.
Sim, Abdul Halim and a several activists had gathered in front of the Jinjang police station to show solidarity to the 33 activists arrested following a demonstration in front of the parliament the same day. Sim said: “The officers did not mention anything about charging us under the PAA. We told them we were there only to show support to fellow activists.”
The demonstration outside parliament on June 24 was to show dissatisfaction over the electoral fraud during the recent general elections and also to hand over a memorandum to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.
Sim was unhappy with the police, saying they were wasting precious time and resources indulging in selective prosecution on the opposition and its leaders. “We feel this is harassment. The activists were only exercising their rights and attempting to hand over a memorandum. It should be the government’s responsibility to accept it,” he said.
“Instead they were arrested. Why is it that the opposition is always being targeted over issues like this?” he asked. Walk the talk, minister told Sim urged Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to walk the talk when the latter said he would concentrate on reducing the crime rate. “He should keep to his word and not waste police resources over these issues. This is unnecessary.
Our crime rates are ever increasing,” he said. “Minister for Youth and Sports Khairy Jamaluddin’s house was recently broken into, even my house and office were broken into and ransacked four times in the recent years,” he added. Sim said the spike in crime rates was debated at length in parliament today and the opposition is willing to work with the police to help reduce the crime figures.
“We are willing to work hand in glove with the police to help combat crime and we hope the police are willing to do the same,” he said. “We are friends, not enemies.
We should put our differences aside and work towards a better future for Malaysians,” he added. Abdul Halim said: “I’m not a politician. I was there at the Jinjang police station to give moral support to my son and the other activists who were arrested. I don’t think there is anything wrong in that. The police are being petty.” “Everytime a group gathers peacefully to fight for their rights, this is going to happen. This is a total waste of time and resources,” added Abdul Halim. –
G Lavendran and P Ramani , Free Malaysia Today