'IGP must resign or face demos'

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/130640 (30/4/10)

Several Pakatan Rakyat elected representatives have given Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan a one-month ultimatum to resign, otherwise he would face nationwide demonstrations.

The ultimatum was issued in response to Musa's strong hint that police personnel be pulled off the streets following criticism over the shooting of teenager Aminulrasyid Amzah in Shah Alam on Monday.

DAP's Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, with PKR Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar and Seri Setia assemblyman Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad handed the police disciplinary board director Abdul Razak Bokhari a memorandum demanding for Musa's resignation. Bukit Aman camp commandant Supt Ali Ahmad received the memo this afternoon.
Lim criticised that Musa's controversial statement "would only undermine the safety and security of the country.” "If it were a deputy minister or politician, he could retract the statement but because he is the chief of police, his statement is unforgivable and irrevocable," said Lim after they handed over the memorandum. He urged Abdul Razak to form a committee to investigate Musa and either advise him to retire or sack him within a month, failing which they will organise mass protests at Bukit Aman and across the nation to demand his resignation.
Nurul Izzah stressed that mass protests would be the last resort, and they intend to use every avenue available to them to push for accountability from Musa. "It's not that we want to do something illegal every time we raise objections, but it's clear cut that if this arrogance is left unchecked, he's going to continue to do this time and again,” said the Lambah Pantai MP. "How many deaths need to occur before there is accountability from the police, especially the police chief?" she asked. Nurul Izzah said the police needs to stop blaming the media for its own shortcomings, and actively improve on them if it is to properly serve the public. "So many times (have I) raised the issue of conflicting statements on the reduction of crime (rates) in Brickfields from January to May of 2008. And they say the same thing: the media was at fault, the media misreported the statements.” "There has to be a stop (to this incompetence). They have to take stock of what are their weaknesses. And where does the buck stop, if not with the IGP? If he himself does not have the readiness and humility to accept blame and implement reform, who else do we look to?" she said.
All three Pakatan Rakyat representatives also brushed aside Musa's earlier statement today that the police were open to having an inquest to clear their name of any wrongdoing in the fatal shooting incident on Monday. Nurul Izzah said if Musa was serious about an inquest, then he should not have jumped the gun in claiming the shooting was done in self-defence, as his premature explanation could be seen as an attempt to influence the outcome of any inquest. "If you want to focus on an inquest, then (just) say you are ready to support an inquest," she said. Nik Nazmi said the only way forward is to push for the formation of an Independent Police Complaints and Misconducts Commission (IPCMC), which was proposed by the Royal Police Commission in 2005. "If (Aminulrasyid's death) is an isolated case, then an inquest would do, but this is not an isolated case so having an IPCMC is key.” "We can have another royal commission but if the government ignores the royal commission, then it's useless," he added.
Musa said earlier today that the police had completed its investigations and handed over the resulting papers to the Attorney-General's office for further action. Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail however returned the investigation papers, instructing the police to probe the case further.