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New Post has been published on http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2015/03/24/investigating-people-over-the-phone-more-efficient-says-pkr-youth-chief/

Investigating people over the phone more efficient, says PKR Youth chief

KUALA LUMPUR, March 24, 2015:

PKR Youth is calling for the Home Ministry to include more “efficient” investigation methods into the Inspector General Standing Orders (IGSO), following the numerous arrests of Opposition leaders and activists.

One of these methods includes conducting initial investigations via the telephone, to ensure investigations could be completed within 24 hours.

PKR Youth chief Fahmi Fadzil’s call comes after Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi revealed in Parliament that police did not arrest Umno leaders over their previous statements because investigations were completed within 24 hours of reports lodged against them.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri and former Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Mashitah Ibrahim had police reports lodged against them over statements many deemed racist and seditious.

While Ismail Sabri had called on consumers to boycott Chinese traders accused of being unscrupulous, Mashitah had accused the Chinese community in Kedah of burning the Quran.

Ismail Sabri later clarified that he was referring to errant traders in general, while it was later established that it was an unsound man who had desecrated Islam’s holy text.

The minister also refuted claims that only Opposition members were being arrested, adding that government supporters had also been arrested in the past.

Zahid said this in reply to a question by M. Kulasegaran (DAP – Ipoh Barat) on why Umno politicians were not arrested for making provocative statements.

Fahmi said with the inclusion of more effective methods, at least investigating officers would be able to stand by at the police station to conduct swift investigation.

“This in view of the current method, especially in cases involving Pakatan Rakyat political members and activists, whereby investigations were not completed quickly.

“Those who are detained for investigation often have to wait hours for policemen to arrive or start investigations.

“It is necessary that Zahid orders the Inspector General of Police to identify more efficient methods of investigation,” the PKR Youth vice-president said in a statement today.

He said current methods were time consuming and were exorbitant in cost, in terms of the number of officers deployed to make the arrests, to the amount of food and facilities needed for detainees.

Fahmi added that on average, an investigating officer handled more or less 30 cases a month, therefore, the Home Minister should put forward basic methods that could ease the process without utilising more resources.

“Hence, I suggest that Zahid issue an order to the IGP to change the IGSO, stop the arrests, especially in cases involving political matters and rights of the people, and implement the method of investigation through phone.

“I’m sure this method would be more efficient,” said Fahmi, who is also PKR’s communications director.