DAP rep stumped by 'police intimidation' charge

Plucky Sri Kembangan state assemblyperson Ean Yong Hian Wah has roundly rejected accusations that he had attempted to intimidate the police in a press statement which he released on Christmas day.

"I am quite surprised by the sudden turn of events," he said, when contacted by Malaysiakini today.

Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar told reporters yesterday that Ean Yong's statement to the media urging the police to cease their probe on Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was tantamount to a threat against the police.

Earlier, Khalid said that Lim would be questioned for claiming at the Pakatan Rakyat convention in Shah Alam on Dec 19 that political aide Teoh Beng Hock, who died from a fall at Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam while being interrogated by anti-corruption officials, was murdered.

He said that Ean Yong would be called up soon to assist in an investigation under Section 506 of the Penal Code and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

Ean Yong, who is unfazed by his impending meeting with the police, said he would offer his full cooperation.

"I have been arrested before and had my statement taken so many times. I am used to it," he said.

Ean Yong, who urged the police to read his Dec 25 press statement "carefully", was clearly confounded by claims that his press release was taken by the police as an "act of intimidation".

He pointed out that the public is becoming increasingly frustrated as the police have been unable to come up with any new revelations on the controversial death of his former political aide Teoh.

"Obviously the police are feeling the heat whenever we criticised them, especially when Teoh's issue is brought up," said Ean Yong, who is a Selangor cabinet member.

Outpouring of support from DAP colleagues

Meanwhile, Kampung Tunku state assemblyperson Lau Weng San threw his support behind his DAP colleague.

He said the probe was "politically motivated" and complained that this was not the first time that the police have taken such an action.

"The controversial part was the last paragraph (of Ean Yong's statement, written in Bahasa Malaysia) which literally means that 'I urge the police to stop investigations on Guan Eng immediately.'

"This sentence cannot be regarded as intimidating the police force. It is very clear that in order to establish a case of criminal intimidation, the paramount element is the threat, or an act of threatening somebody.

"In Ean Yong’s case, he did not indicate any element of threat towards the police force," argued Lau.

"Did Ean Yong claim that he will shoot the police force, organise riots, burn the houses of the policemen, kill their family members, or charge them in court?"

Instead of focusing on unveiling the truth leading to Teoh's death, which is a matter of national interest, the police have chosen to go after Lim, lamented Klang member of parliament Charles Santiago.

"As the year ends, this is what I would regard as the most preposterous statement a police officer could make," he said in response to Khalid's allegations.

Also dismissing Khalid's claims, Beruas member of parliament Ngeh Koo Ham pointed out that Khalid is "ignorant" of Article 10 of the federal constitution that guarantees freedom of speech and expression.

He added that the police force should be spending more time combating crimes rather than finding fault with Pakatan Rakyat politicians.

Sad end to a sad year

Describing Khalid's action as "most deplorable", Bukit Bendera member of parliament Liew Chin Tong noted that the police is clearly "intimidating" its critics.

"It is the most regrettable that the police has decided on such a harsh and draconian course to quell views expressed in public sphere.

"It is a sad end to a sad year for human rights and democracy in Malaysia, as well as a distressing closing of a decade full of instances of abuses of power by the police.

"Malaysians deserve to know whether this police action is part of Prime Minister Najib (Abdul) Razak's National Key Result Areas (NKRA) approach, among other things, to reduce the crime rate," he decried.