Cops needn’t probe PKR protests against Azam Baki: Hanipa

KUALA LUMPUR – Sepang MP Mohamed Hanipa Maidin has questioned the police’s criminalisation of PKR Youth leaders over their recent protests calling for the resignation of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.

The Amanah lawmaker stressed that the Malaysian youth have a right to hold peaceful assemblies and to voice out their opinions.

“With due respect, in my view, there is no need at all for the police to initiate any criminal investigation.

“Let the Malaysian youth be given their rights to exercise their fundamental rights duly enshrined in the federal constitution, i.e to assemble peacefully and to freely speak their minds without any form of intimidation whatsoever,” he said in a statement today.

Additionally, he said that police have other more important issues and crimes to attend to, instead of focusing on trivial matters such as this.

He said that in this day and age, the police should not be criminalising those trying to exercise their fundamental rights.

“We are now in 2022. It is high time for the police to move on.

“There is no need to criminalize any act which may (be) tantamount to exercising one’s fundamental rights duly enshrined in our apex law,” the opposition MP added.

Furthermore, he noted that witnessing the youth of the country being so concerned over pressing matters should be viewed as praiseworthy instead.

“It is good for the country if we have anak muda (youth) who are very concerned with matters such as this issue,” he said.

His statement was released following the police’s summoning for questioning of four PKR Youth leaders who demanded for Azam’s resignation over his recent share-trading controversy.

They mobilised a “Save MACC Protest” at the Putrajaya MACC building, accompanied by 50 vehicles, to hand over a memorandum calling for Azam’s resignation.

They were later called to the Putrajaya district police headquarters. – The Vibes, January 12, 2022