KUALA LUMPUR – The mobile phone belonging to Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman was seized by police after he was questioned for about three hours at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters.
Police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission will also take over access to his Instagram account as part of an investigation into Syed Saddiq’s comments on cow milk trader A. Ganapathy’s death while in police custody.
“I have given my full cooperation to police regarding investigations against me concerning an Instagram post I made last month defending family members of A. Ganapathy.
“Police under orders of the MCMC seized my phone and Instagram account.
“It’s not wrong for me as an MP to act as a check and balance to the government of the day, and urge them to implement the Independent Police Complaints of Misconduct Commission (IPCMC),” said Syed Saddiq, who is the former youth and sports minister.
He added that he is being investigated under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act and Section 503B of the Penal Code.
Reiterating the message behind his Instagram post, he said the IPCMC’s implementation was in the works during the Pakatan Harapan administration.
“The IPCMC Bill was ready to be tabled in March 2020.”
Syed Saddiq added that he will continue advocating the implementation of the IPCMC despite the ongoing police investigation.
“When you look at the numbers (of custodial deaths), it tragically impacts a particular community. That’s why all Malaysians must care about the issue, and acknowledge the racial element about it.
“The racial element can be addressed via policy reforms via the IPCMC.”
On other reforms, such as defunding the police, he said: “I see the police as my friends and allies. It is the few who abuse the rule of law, who should be targeted and have action taken against.
“Despite the majority being good police officers, the few bad apples taint the force. The solution to this is to single out power-abusing powers, and for this the IPCMC is required.” – The Vibes, May 22, 2021
