NINE police reports have been lodged against people who allegedly belittled a member of an elite police Orang Asli unit who was shot dead at the Malaysia-Thai border last week.   

The Pertubuhan Kebajikan Komuniti Jahut Pahang representative Yusri Ahon said the reports were made against three people who made derogatory remarks against the late Sergeant Baharuddin Ramli, 54, who was killed in a shoot-out with smugglers at the Malaysia-Thailand border last Tuesday.

Baharuddin’s  colleague, Corporal Norihan Tari, 39, suffered serious injuries, and is being treated at Tuanku Fauziah Hospital in Kangar, Perlis.

Both men are members of the Senoi Praaq – an elite all-Orang Asli unit of the police’s General Operations Force.

The reports were made against Maria Tunku Sabri, Fak Khairudin and Zamzuri Hussin.

Maria, a presenter of the TV show Jalan-Jalan Cari Makan, is alleged to have named a dish she made in an Instagram post “Siakap Tiga Rasa Mati Tertembak di Sempadan Malaysia-Thai” (Siakap fish with three flavours shot dead at at the Malaysia-Thai border), She is also alleged to have captioned the post with the words: “Apa nak jadi mati katak sajalah Pegawai Gerakan Am di sempadan Malaysia-Thai,” (What to do, the General Operations Force officer died for nothing at the Malaysia-Thai border). 

A Facebook post by Fak Khairudin allegedly said the deceased did not need praise as it was his job to protect the borders.

Zamzuri Hussin is alleged to have commented on Facebook:ing “We never had this trafficking problem before but since this Senoi Praaq was put on duty, there’s suddenly a lot of trafficking activity,”.

The group’s secretary Koi Bin Ting said the statements insult and belittle the sacrifice of the Senoi Praaq members.

He said the insults were clearly intended to bring down the dignity of the deceased and mock him, on top of that, they did not think of what his family would feel.

“This also goes to show that they do not respect the Orang Asli in the police and have zero regard for Orang Asli in general.”

The group said the report was also made based on one of the principles of Rukun Negara “Courtesy and Morality” which they say the statements clearly do not represent.

“We will not compromise with any individuals who make provocative statements that try to disturb public peace and we hope authorities will take action against these people”  Koi said. – December 3, 2020.