KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 — Parliament should order Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar to stop abusing the police’s remand powers when arresting federal lawmakers, DAP MP Lim Guan Eng said today.
Lim said the series of police arrests on MPs were done in a insulting and humiliating manner although the lawmakers were yet to be convicted of any offence and were not even accused of serious crimes such as murder and corruption.
“I want to request this House to order the IGP not to detain longer than the reasonable time.
“We are not against any arrests according to law, but when they are accused of gathering without permit, it becomes a very serious crime like murder or bribery,” the Bagan MP told Parliament, citing as examples the 3am arrest of PAS MP Khalid Samad and the handcuffing of a barefooted PKR MP Rafizi Ramli over their roles in the opposition-backed #KitaLawan rally last weekend.
He also pointed out that police were “abusing remand powers by extending the detention period” that resulted in federal lawmakers being blocked from attending Parliament sessions.
Rafizi, who was arrested and detained last week, was only announced at 11am this morning as being released.
Lim pleaded with the IGP to respect the Parliamentary institution, where federal lawmakers elected by the public have duties to carry out.
“I hope an order can be given to IGP, don’t detain longer than the period set, don’t need to remand. I plead with Yang di-Pertuan to defend and uphold the rights of MPs,” the DAP secretary-general later said in concluding his plea to the Parliament Speaker.
The police have been arresting Pakatan Rakyat politicians in an ever widening dragnet over the #KitaLawan rallies held to pressure for the release of jailed Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Human rights lawyers have criticised the police for the arrests, calling the action a preemptive strike to prevent the rally from taking place.
