Monday, November 05, 2007

[Mkini] Fu’s about-face over 'police disunity'

Fu's about-face over 'police disunity'
Syed Jaymal Zahiid
Oct 31, 07 5:56pm

Deputy Internal Security Minister Fu Ah Kiow kept members of
parliament waiting four hours today, for an elaboration on
allegations of rift and disunity in the police force.

When he did resume replying on the matter which emerged up yesterday,
he had little more to add - to the fury of Parliamentary Opposition
Leader Lim Kit Siang.


Yesterday, Fu had undertaken to answer Lim's questions in greater
detail today. But the mood of anticipation collapsed when Fu only
provided flat 'standard' answers while winding-up points related to
his ministry in Budget 2008.

He told the House that the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has submitted
a complete report to the Attorney-General's Chambers in relation to
explosive claims levelled yesterday by Commercial Crime Investigation
Department (CCID) director Ramli Yusuff.

Fu then said that he could not provide any further information
because the investigation is in progress and it would mean tampering
with the case if he were to elaborate.


Upon hearing this, a furious Lim exclaimed: "You are a liar! We have
been waiting for four hours to get answers on why the police force is
in chaos and you only give us this? You're a liar!"

Lim had demanded an explanation as to why police officers had not
backed Ramli when he was interrogated by the ACA.

'No conflict'

Ramli had implied the existence of factions in the police force, a
claim that was denied yesterday by Inspector-General of Police Musa
Hassan, who would only concede a "difference of opinion".


In his press statement, Ramli had also claimed that colleagues from
other units had been of no help when the ACA quizzed CCID officers.

Fu, however, said the issue of disunity was a matter of perception
and could not be taken as absolute truth.

"There is no disunity among the police. If there is a conflict of
jurisdiction between different departments in the force it can be
solved internally, but rest assured, there is none," he explained.

Lim was dissatisfied with Fu's reply and continued to call him a
liar. He argued that the matter is of great public interest and yet,
Fu was not providing adequate information.

The argument reached a stalemate when House speaker Ramli Ngah Talib
reminded Fu that his session had ended and that the House had to
proceed with the winding-up speeches involving other ministries.

Ramli is currently being investigated by the ACA in relation to a
claim that he had undeclared assets of RM27 million.

He had called a press conference to deny this and made damning
allegations against the ACA for compromising the safety of police
informants.
Musa had earlier claimed that he was being framed by his own men in
an allegation that he received RM2 million to free three gangsters.
An ACA investigation subsequently cleared him.

Several quarters have linked the Ramli's allegation to a spat in
March involving Musa and Deputy Internal Security Minister Mohd
Johari Baharom.


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