Cops could have handled temple violence better, say activists

Christopher Rabin Christopher Rabin Updated 7 years ago · Published on 27 Nov 2018 8:50PM · 3 Comments

Marina Mahathir says irresponsible people should not be allowed to tarnish the good image the country had gained after the 14th general election. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, November 27, 2018.

THE police should have been faster in dealing with the mob outside a temple in Seafield over the last 48 hours, said a coalition of civil society groups today.

The Plan of Action for Malaysia (POAM) coalition, also known as Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia, said speedy action by the police could have prevented the vandalism at the One City building this morning.

“They (the police) could have known the issue was developing, so they should have been more proactive.

“We understand that the police are handling many issues, but at the same time, if they had an inkling of the issue, they should have monitored the situation better,” POAM chairman Zaid Kamarrudin said today.

Among the groups in POAM are Tamil Foundation Malaysia, The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Suaram, My Petaling Jaya, and Saudara Sociocultural Research.

POAM said the violence at the Sri Maha Mariamman temple and the One City building that happened on two consecutive days had once again raised the need for an Independent Police Complaint and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

He said this would provide an opportunity for disgruntled groups to take their complaints to the IPCMC and a fair investigation.

The Plan of Action for Malaysia coalition says speedy action by the police could have prevented the vandalism at the One City building this morning. – The Malaysian Insight pic, November 27, 2018.

POAM also read out a message by social activist Marina Mahathir and human rights activist Ambiga Sreenevasan.

Marina said irresponsible people should not be allowed to tarnish the good image the country had gained after the 14th general election.

“I feel sad that the hopes we had on May 9th are being destroyed by a few irresponsible people. We earn respect for our country throughout the world not by inciting hate and violence, but by treating one another with love and respect,” she said.

Ambiga said she hoped all parties would stand down and find a peaceful resolution to the situation.

“It pains me to see a place of religious worship, which should be a place of unity and peace, at the centre of violence and hurt.

“This must stop and I would ask everyone to act with cool heads and resolve this matter,” she said. – November 27, 2018.

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Comments

  • Yes well said lets Respect and Love each other we are Malaysian First 1st.

    Posted 7 years ago by Danial Abdullah · Reply

  • Well said dear marina mahathir

    Posted 7 years ago by Tharan Singh · Reply

  • Malaysia has a history of connivance militancy, otherwise known as 'mobs for hire'. (See for example work by Sophie Lemire at the New Mandala and elsewhere.) Can we exclude the possibility that the cops were informed and either involved or told to be inefficient? The question to ask is who benefits from this incident politically. I hope the independent press will actively investigate this incident and reveal the truth. It does not seem (yet) like Malaysia's state institutions be trusted to do so. The possibility cannot be excluded that the people who possibly 'hired the mobs' are even in government. As we know, 'incidents' have happened in the past which served as reasons or more likely excuses for pihak-pihak tertentu for passing draconian laws or declaring states of emergency.

    Posted 7 years ago by Anak Kampung · Reply