THE cabinet must compel Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador, Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and de facto Law Minister Liew Vui Keong to resign over their stonewalling in the case of M. Indira Gandhi’s daughter, said civil society groups.

They said the three top officials had failed to fulfil a high court order to locate and return Indira’s daughter to her.

“The attitude of the IGP and the condonation of the two ministers show contempt for the judiciary and for the principle of rule of law,” the civil society group said in a joint statement.

“If the cabinet does not respond within seven days, we will be compelled to assemble at the Prime Minister’s Office to press our request.”

The civil society groups making the demand are Eliminating Deaths and Abuse in Custody Together, Citizens Against Enforced Disappearances, Parti Sosialis Malaysia, Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia, Suara Rakyat Malaysia, and Minority Rights Action Party.

Indira is suing Hamid for RM100 million for failing to find her daughter, Prasana Diksa, snatched by her Muslim convert former husband more than 11 years ago.

The former kindergarten teacher’s lawyers and Indira Gandhi Action Team will file a suit this month.

Indira also wants to compel Hamid to act on a 2014 Ipoh High Court’s mandamus order for the IGP to enforce a arrest warrant for her ex-husband Muhammad Riduan Abdullah and a recovery order to retrieve her child.

The group also chided Hamid who had said that he knew where Riduan was and had urged him to “come forward”. Hamid had stated that his aim was to procure a “win-win” outcome for all concerned.

“The IGP’s comments have drawn widespread public ire because it shows belligerent contempt for the Federal Court.

“Despite the outpouring of public ire, Muhyiddin and Liew have not responded publicly.”

They said that Muhiyiddin and Liew have failed to meet the expectations of the public on several matters relating to the police.

“But the matter of the IGP’s remarks about Riduan caps them all, because it reveals the type of policing the IGP promotes and practises.

“This shows that the minister responsible for the police and the minister who is supposed to be the voice of the judiciary, condone the attitude of the IGP.”

The group said Pakatan Harapan must do what it promised in the run-up to the 2018 general election.

“They must remedy the rot which has been entrenched by the Barisan Nasional government.

“In the face of such flagrant overstepping of legal limits, the Cabinet must demonstrate that the government honours the rule of law and rejects dictatorial policing.

“This is a matter of grave national importance,” the statement added. – February 13, 2020.