Motion to sack IGP rejected

KUALA LUMPUR: A motion to sack Inspector General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar in Parliament over his conduct in relation to the recent detention of Opposition MPs has been rejected by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia (pic).

The motion, proposed by Sim Tze Tsin (PKR-Bayan Baru) and received by Pandikar on March 25, called for Khalid to be sacked over the alleged misuse of the Sedition Act against MPs, the detention of attendees of public assemblies and for recent social media crackdowns.

"Until today, 121 MPs, activists, students and lecturers have been detained, charged or remanded by the police. We ask that the police return to their priority of fighting crime.

"I think the majority of policemen want to do their jobs and fight crime but we do not want the IGP to misplace that priority," said Sim, who is the PKR strategy director.

In a written reply to Sim on Monday, Pandikar said the motion was rejected as the actions taken by the IGP were within his legal jurisdiction, and were done to ensure national security and public peace.