(Petaling Jaya, Monday): The statement by the MP for Gua Musang, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah supporting an independent inquiry to probe the police assault on former Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is most commendable.
Razaleigh said that if the government wants to be transparent, it is best served by the establishment of the inquiry board which would be able to discover the truth so that the perpetrators of the crime would have to face the law.
The time has come for every Cabinet Minister to take a stand on the proposal for the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Anwar’s "black eye" and other injuries while under police custody.
Malaysians can only conclude that Cabinet Ministers who are not prepared publicly to declare their support for a Royal Commission of Inquiry do not want to see that justice is done in the scandal of the high-level police lawlessness as highlighted in the case of Anwar’s "black eye" and other injuries while under police custody.
The Malaysian public have a right to demand that Cabinet Ministers support the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry to conduct public investigations into the police beatings of Anwar. In fact, voters of Cabinet constituencies should demand that their Member of Parliament should seriously take into consideration the public horror and outrage at the high-level police lawlessness in the country and their concern that if a former Deputy Prime Minister could be beaten up while under police custody until losing consciousness and having a "black eye" and other bruises still publicly evident ten days after the assault, how can ordinary citizens feel safe and free when they fall into police hands in the country?
(11/1/99)