I have just seen the statement by the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun, on the Kuala Lumpur City Ban on the Better Beer Festival next month, and I asked myself whether this is the first blot on the professionalism of the new IGP?

The job of the top policeman in the country is to lead the police force to fight crime and ensure the safety and security of Malaysia to its citizens, visitors and investors and not to play politics with the sacred duty of the police force for the benefit of one or two Ministers.

Out of the blue, Mohamad Fuzi said the police information that certain quarters were planning to cause chaos at the Better Beer Festival 2017 slated to be held next month in Kuala Lumpur and this is the reason the police were opposed to the event.
The IGP said: “There was information that militants were planning to commit sabotage at the festival, as they believe it was against their struggle.

“There was also intelligence which showed there were parties out there who were planning to create havoc during the festival, which would create a situation concerning security.

“To prevent the situation from spiralling out of control, PDRM (Royal Malaysian Police) acted proactively by putting a stop to the event, in the interest of public safety and security.”

Not just the general Malaysian population, I believe that the majority of the police in the Royal Malaysian Police Force take the IGP’s statement with a pinch of salt.

I repeat what I said earlier today at a press conference in Pekan Nenas:

“Two weeks before the 60th Merdeka Anniversary celebrations, the Perak Police Chief revealed that the Islamic State (IS) was planning to launch an attack in Perak during the upcoming Merdeka Day celebrations.

“Did the government cancel all Merdeka celebrations in Perak because of such intelligence reports?

“Of course not, although the intelligence reports would have justified more police reinforcements at critical areas and greater police preparedness.

“Similarly, if it is true that there are intelligence reports that there would be security or terrorist threats to the Better Beer Festival, a ban on the event is not the answer as it would reflect very poorly on police professionalism. However, Ayub Khan has denied knowledge of such security or terrorist threat to the Better Beer Festival.

“If the Malaysian police cannot even handle a security or terrorist threat to the Better Beer Festival, which would be held in a very localised and easily protected area, Malaysians would be entitled to ask how could the Police face a major or full-scale terrorist threat?”

The Police must not compromise its professionalism and get dragged into partisan politics.

[Media Statement in Gelang Patah on Thursday, 21st Sept 2017]