Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Guan Eng slams cops for taking sides in Perak - Malaysian Insider

By Neville Spykerman

KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 – Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has lashed out at the police for not allowing the Perak state assembly sitting to be convened in the legislature building today.

Speaking at the lobby of Parliament here, Lim said he was disappointed that the police were again “taking sides”.

On Thursday, he said police did not act and were reduced to being spectators when Gelugor MP Karpal Singh was barred from entering parliament by a group from Umno Youth.

“Police claimed they had no power or authority inside Parliament, even though the incident happened inside the grounds but I remember they had previously made arrests at the Parliament car park.”

He said today, by barring the Perak speaker and lawmakers from entering the state assembly the police have demonstrated “differing standards”.

“The police are taking a political stand by preventing a legally constituted assembly from sitting.”

He said he understands there has also been threats of violence, in Perak, and yet the police are just standing by, just like when Karpal was surrounded in Parliament, last week.

Lim said he has heard unconfirmed reports about a gun being brandished during the fracas, adding that the news was very disturbing.

“The Police have shown that they are not the guardians of public safety but of Barisan National (BN) and this is regrettable.”

He added that the police have forgotten that their salaries are not paid by the BN but the people of Malaysia.

Lim said that BN wanted to rule Perak when the only had 46 per cent of the popular vote compared to 54 per cent held by Pakatan Rakyat.

“Since when is 46 per cent bigger then 54 per cent? Maybe they fail to understand after maths and science started to be taught in English.”

Meanwhile Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, during a debate, also sarcastically hit out at BN for the Perak fiasco.

“Today, I am speaking in this House but in Perak, they are meeting under a tree in front of the international media.”

No comments: