THERE may be a need for Bukit Aman to publicly reveal VIPs in Malaysia who are provided with bodyguards and/or police escorts by the government given these bodyguards and/or escorts are from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), hence are civil servants who are being paid by taxpayers’ money.
In light of the incident whereby a “police security escort” threw a punch at disabled Grab driver Ong Ing Keong, 46, on May 28, human rights activist and lawyer Charles Hector reckoned that there is also a need to know how many police officers are doing that type of job instead of performing their usual police duties of law enforcement.
“Who are the VIPs who enjoy this service whether they are royalty/rulers, their spouse, their children/relatives, Prime Minister, the PM’s wife and kids, minister’s etc? What is the financial implication to the state?” asked Hector in a recent blog.
“When on bodyguard or escort duties, is the said VIP responsible for their wrongdoings and/or action/omission that could be against the law or will it be the Home Minister and Inspector-General of Police (IGP) who will be responsible for the action/omission of such officers?”
Hector further wondered if the VIPs have the power to order or direct the actions of the police escort/bodyguard assigned to him/her.
“Must the police officer listen and follow the orders of the VIP? Here the Home Minister and IGP needs to clarify on the matter. If the VIP orders the police-bodyguard to assault or even kill (a target), is the said police officer duty bound to do as ordered?”
Hector further described as “serious” the chain of events that led to the filing of four police reports – including retraction of the first report.
“If the police officer (bodyguard/escort) assaulted the e-hailing driver, then the crime of assault may have been committed,” asserted the co-founder of NGO Malaysians Against Death Penalty & Torture (MADPET).
“If the hand phone was taken, then it may be theft, or robbery if force was used. If there was coercion/force to withdraw police report filed, then another there is another criminal offence there.”
Added Hector: “In Malaysia, the fact that the complainant withdraws the police report will not stop the investigation of a crime.
“That money was given to withdraw (the first police report) makes it even more complex as there is now elements of bribery and worse still, this was allegedly not done by the said police who assaulted or committed crimes against the victim but by some so-called palace official.
“The pending questions that interest the public now is whether the Home Minister and the IGP should apologise to the deaf-mute Grab driver/VIP for the alleged ‘assault’ or wrongdoings? Also, has the said perpetrator police officer been terminated?” – June 5, 2024
