Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali has described the government-appointed inquiry panel on Bersih 3.0 as a “waste of time”.

NONE This, he said, is because the facts surrounding the protest are a foregone conclusion.

"There is nothing to investigate. We already know the rally was illegal and they violated a court order. They intended to breach the barricade (around) Dataran Merdeka," he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said there is no need for the government to set up the panel just to placate those who have accused the police of brutality during the protest in Kuala Lumpur on April 28.

 'Yellow carpet for journalists'

Commenting on allegations of police brutality against journalists during the protest, Ibrahim drew parallels to the behaviour of the press corps in everyday events.

"When there are big events such as gatherings or conventions, the rules are already set out but journalists still want to rush in and take photographs, until even security personnel cannot control them.

"When there are so many people, what do you expect?... there will be pushing and then people will make a fuss out of it, does this mean next time there should be a red carpet for protesters and a yellow carpet for journalists?"

He added that in war zones, journalists are kidnapped and killed, adding "so if jounalists are daring enough (to enter such a situation) then they should not blame people when they are kidnapped or killed".

However, Ibrahim was quick to add that he did not intend to offend journalists, stating: "I like journalists, or else my news will not be published, I am merely giving an explanation."

He pointed out that the charging of two police officers for allegedly assaulting a journalist during the Bersih protest had demotivated the force from carrying out their duties.

"I spoke to many police officers and they are demoralised. Even when they try to stop a snatch thief and the thief crashes and breaks his head, the police are blamed."

He added the government need not look into accusations about the police and focus on Bersih participants instead as they were the ones who had breached the barricade at Dataran Merdeka.

"The law is the law, the government does not need to be defensive or apologetic," he added.

‘Investigate claim of Anwar’s RM3bil’

On a separate matter, Ibrahim revealed that he had yesterday lodged a police report over claims that opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim controls some 20 master accounts worth RM3 billion in assets, shares and cash.

This, he added, is based on an Utusan Malaysia report on June 2 which said the then-Bank Negara deputy governor Abdul Murad Khalid admitted to facilitating a payment of more than RM120 million to Anwar and his affiliates between 1992 and 1997.

While acknowledging that this was an old issue which was first raised in 1999, Ibrahim insisted that an investigation should be reopened into the matter following the revival of the issue in the press.

“We want to know what is the source of this money, whether if they came from certain companies or parties and how are they capable of contributing such large amounts.”

He said that an investigation, preferably through a royal commission of inquiry, would be good for Anwar as if the allegations are untrue, it will absolve him from the allegations.

Ibrahim added that he has also delivered an open letter to Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Abu Kassim Mohamed this morning, urging the panel to act on the allegation.

Anwar had on Nov 7, 1999 denied the allegation and challenged then-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to set up an independent panel to investigate the allegation, but it did not materialise.