– Jay Jay Denis
The Malay Mail Online
October 12, 2013
OCT 12 — “If we get evidence, we shoot them first,” Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was quoted as saying. Reporters were then threatened that if any of what he said was reported, their news portals might be shut down. This is a Member of Parliament put in charge of one of the most key ministries in the country.
What will happen after this? I think you know. There is no need for elaboration.
The Home Affairs Minister has “crossed the line” many a time but has he been held accountable? I don’t recall him being investigated for his statements at all.
To say that “we shoot them first” is preposterous. And that coming from a minister!
Many countries try to observe the rule of law, putting it above everything else so that it acts (via the judicial system), as a check and balance for any society. Ahmad Zahid has undermined the rule of law.
He has undermined the judiciary too. Allowing the police to bypass the courts and act as disciplinarians to society shows that we might be at a crossroad here, where the legal system is not given the chance to do its duty.
Even for Ahmad Zahid’s self-proclaimed law, the now infamous Prevention of Crime Act, the minister said that “even if there is not enough evidence, we can detain them for two years”. He wants free rein to act according to his whim and fancy.
Now more fuel has been added to this ever-growing fire, when he proudly claimed that it was not standard procedure for warning shots to be fired. The Standard Operating Procedure observed by our police force is vague as not many are aware of it. However, there certainly has to be a set of procedures, or rules of engagement, which they are bound to follow, and not be gung-ho when apprehending criminals.
As agents of the law, that is their duty: apprehend criminals and not take them out. I thought we all believed in the notion that one is “innocent until proven guilty”.
The cherry on Ahmad Zahid’s cake is when he nonchalantly challenged to be sued for sedition. His utterances are irrefutably seditious in nature, by even segregating races as a means of getting support for the party elections, which is blowing a lot of steam but losing substance.
All of these do not bode well for his Premier. Prime Minister Najib has not been seen to refute or be dissimilar to Ahmad Zahid’s newfound brashness. Some may opine that silence does not signal agreement but the majority of the public think otherwise, that he indeed has given the “green light” for his Home Minister to carry on doing what he has.
Not a word has been uttered in regard to his 1 Malaysia rhetoric.
The Prime Minister speaks of transformation, and maybe it is. Powers that be are allowed to act on their accord and not be subjected to ministerial responsibility. We have gone up a notch or two after GE13, with the race card at the forefront of Umno’s agenda.
Silence is golden, as the adage goes, but ignorance can be detrimental. The Prime Minister is trying hard to regain the confidence of the people.
He can start immediately, right here, right now. Get tough on the Home Minister, and he should rightfully be dismissed. This has to be a benchmark that more of this sort of unacceptable behaviour will not go unopposed.
Najib should act now, but I know he will not. Or maybe the only way that change can come is from the ordinary people. They might be able to do something extraordinary. The clock is ticking. Hope Najib clicks into gear.
#1 by yhsiew on Saturday, 12 October 2013 - 8:43 pm
Way back in the 1980s when I was still studying in England, I happened to come across a TV program discussing whether the police should shoot the criminal (who had a gun in his hand) after he was asked to put his hands up in the air. The advice of the chief police to his colleagues was that they should not shoot unless the criminal MOVED his hand to point the gun at the police.
#2 by Bigjoe on Saturday, 12 October 2013 - 9:07 pm
It boils down to an addiction to power abuse. They are just aping the hack called Mahathir.
Insisting Najib answer? Criticising Zahid? Honestly the critics lacks imagination.. Try for example, calling for setting up an international arbitration panel that looks into every potential wrongful death – Mahathir and UMNO leaders have to pay say RM20m min for each the global panel decide against them..
The point of such a hail mary proposal is just to give the sense how out of reach the problem is to the critics.
UMNO is the problem. Its a junkie for power abiuse – up and down the organisation. You don’t criticize or plead with a group of junkies. Their promises not worth anything. Only real solution is their end.
#3 by bruno on Saturday, 12 October 2013 - 9:23 pm
This is a guy who has the most political masters in any politician’s political career,long or short.From Mahathir,Anwar all the way down to Najib.He is a survivor who lacks what any human being had in his/her head.Always had a foot stuck in his mouth whenever he speaks.A real clown of a moron.
#4 by undertaker888 on Saturday, 12 October 2013 - 9:40 pm
That’s what will happen when a monkey get hold of a gun. Monkey zahid is no different. He is a monkey in the wild west Malaysia.
If he thinks he is so great, why Malaysia is one of the most corrupted country in the world? Oh must be the non Malays fault. Indians kill them, Chinese is corrupt. He is the saint type.
#5 by bruno on Saturday, 12 October 2013 - 9:57 pm
Ask any Medan residents from Medan city to Brastagi to Lake Toba.Ask them about the urban cowboys running wild in the sixties and early seventies.Extortions,snatch thieves,robberies,rapes,kidnappings, and murders all happening in broad daylight.That was also the time when corruption was at its highest level.
Remains of well known gangster leaders and gang soldiers were showing up all over Medan city and it’s outskirts.The rest if any that survived,dissapeared into thin air.Maybe ran into the mountains or into Thailand or Malaysian jungles.There were widespread speculation of a Jakarta sponsored death squad.Of course Jakarta denied that such a nonsensical thing had existed.
Our HM is a different breed of politician.He is honest and tells the truth,straight to the very final details.Maybe we should have given him the benefit of doubt and credit when credit is due.
#6 by john on Saturday, 12 October 2013 - 10:33 pm
Rule of Law here has different meaning and application depending on whom the law being applied and enforced. Is a known fact for the Dumnoputras is a different law or rather no “rule of law ” for them – they are the ketuanan, the “untouchables”. But, eg. like Mammak, AG, Warlords included, etc., are the Special Group only slightly different from the self-proclaimed ones (the above politics hierachy), whereby this Special Group ruled above the ‘rule of law” instead. So, what “rule of law” here ?, is ALL being manipulated by Dumno – Ah Cheat Kok is a goner already, trying to ‘fight’ (sell-out) for own survival.
#7 by Di Shi Jiu on Saturday, 12 October 2013 - 10:35 pm
The one thing good about Zahid’s “shoot first” policy is that when I decide that I have evidence of criminality by an UMNO/BN politician, I will know that I can shoot them straight away :)
Thank you, Zahid Hamidi.
#8 by Noble House on Sunday, 13 October 2013 - 5:03 am
Umno’s contaminated breeding system where its leaders develop an incredible ability for arrogant posturing when exposed.
It’s brand of politics inculcates a primal case of survival of the fittest, where warlords thrive, in massive doses of corruption, scandals, wastage and the lack of moral conviction to govern credibly resulting in inefficiency of the civil service.
#9 by Winston on Sunday, 13 October 2013 - 7:08 am
The rule of law is deader than the proverbial doornail in Bolehland.
UMNO is the law and the law is UMNO.
And their component parties that are very quick to jump on the opposition for all sorts of imaginary “wrongs” are very, very quiet!!!
Perhaps the crumbs they received have lulled them in a stupor?
#10 by Jeffrey on Sunday, 13 October 2013 - 8:14 am
Democracy based on voting process is not helping the country if country’s leaders are voted in not by the populace as a whole but delegates of party whose perception of what is a good leader is perverse. Silence against subordinates is of course not perceived as a leadership quality. It connotes helpless and ineffectual leadership. The flock want to be led by a ‘strong’ leader but their idea of strength is not what it should be – resoluteness to adhere to the right principles whether rule of law or fairness to all. Their idea of leadership strength is toughness even if based on jingoism of daring to confront, offend and snub others or say outrageous and shocking things (even if one is blatantly on the wrong side) without heed or worry for backlash. TDM set the tone. When he was deputy PM he said his govt would shoot on sight the Vietnamese boat people.
#11 by cinaindiamelayubersatu on Tuesday, 15 October 2013 - 9:02 am
Orang yang zahid tumbuk tu, sepatutnya dia tembak aje…habis cerita