SOCIAL activist Siti Kasim has lashed out at the safeguard measure for all police stations nationwide to close their gates from 10pm to prevent a recurrence of the Ulu Tiram police station attack in Johor on May 17 where two policemen were killed.
“When we thought that it couldn’t go lower … Madani has proven that they can beat the impossible by going lower in the level of stupidity,” fumed the lawyer in a Facebook post.
“Simply unbelievable. What’s next? If there’s attack at Hospital Emergency, they’ll close the same? Madness! 🤯”
For context, Siti Kasim was commenting on a statement by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail during yesterday’s (July 9) Minister’s Question Time that there is a need “to balance the needs of the people and also the safety of our policemen”.
Interestingly, Siti Kasim received mixed responses for her view with Facebookers tending to agree with her that this could be a case “when police can’t even protect themselves” but not so on the X platform.
One commentator even shared a quote by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain who clarified that the closing of the front gates of police stations after 10pm nationwide will not disrupt its service to the public.
On X, however, commentators tried to convince Siti Kasim that “the gate may be closed but that does not mean the balai is”. “There will be a sentry at the post. Balai operates 24/7/365. No worries at all,” they contended although Siti Kasim was little convinced.
As one netizen observed, the safeguard measure seems to be like a knee jerk reaction to the attack on the Ulu Tiram police station.
Henceforth, perhaps Home Minister Saifuddin should “in fact clarify how did the PDRM (Royal Malaysia Police) not know about a JI (Islamist militant group Jemaah Islamiyah) sympathiser residing a stone throw away from the police station”.
As another netizen rightly summed up, the confusion pertaining to the entire exercise would not have arisen if only both the minister and J-KOM (Community Communication Department) are more tactful in their announcement. – July 10, 2024
