i for idiot
Police must use common sense, urges opposition
More brickbats are being hurled at police over the questioning of pupils at SK Seri Pristana recently with an opposition lawmaker urging police to use common sense when carrying out their duties.
The latest salvo came from Seputeh MP Teresa Kok (pic) who said the Inspector-General of Police should refrain from making ridiculous statements in trying to protect his men.
IGP Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar earned the ire of child activists, lawyers and parents when he said yesterday that "police can question children without notifying their parents".
He was commenting on the incident at Seri Pristana where the school authorities had allowed police to question six pupils over the eating in the shower room incident.
“The public expect police to act with common sense, yet the IGP talked about the strict interpretation of the law,” said Kok in a statement today.
“Perhaps the IGP feels the need to support his men, but to do so by relying on the technicality of the law, will make this attempt futile."
She said even though the law does not state that police must obtain permission, it is obvious that parents should be present during questioning
The school was put in the spotlight when a mother uploaded a picture of non-Muslim pupils eating in a shower room during Ramadan following a directive from the headmaster.
The picture went viral and subsequently 18 police reports were lodged against the school and the headmaster.
The Education ministry insisted that the issue was solved as several measures had been taken to rectify the situation, including upgrading the school canteen to accommodate more pupils.
“The IGP should know that the pupils were not suspects in the case, so there is no justification whatsoever for the police to interview them without consent from the parents."
Yesterday, lawyers and child activists also accused Khalid of being arrogant in making such a statement.
Kok also questioned the need for the police to arrest national laureate Datuk A Samad Said in the wee hours.
“In both cases, the police were insensitive," she said.
Samad was arrested for allegedly flying the Sang Saka Malaya flag on the eve of Merdeka celebrations at Dataran Merdeka.
He was taken to the Dang Wangi police headquarters where he had his statement recorded and released two hours later early on Wednesday. – September 6, 2013
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UMNO GOVERNMENT SURROUNDED BY IDOTS
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