Ministry: Duterte’s way not for us

MALAYSIA cannot go the Philippines way in tackling drug-related issues because it is against international convention, says the Home Ministry.

Deputy Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was unorthodox in his fight against the drug scourge but said the Govern­ment would not follow suit.

“We also do not want to take the kind of action that can affect human rights. If we follow, it will have implications at an international level, including economic sanctions,” he said when winding up the debate on the Budget 2018 allocation to the ministry.

Nur Jazlan was responding to a suggestion by Datuk Seri Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan), who said Malaysia should emulate Duterte in his actions.

Bung’s remark evoked strong protests from Opposition MPs who asked if he was being serious.

Duterte’s drug war has been criticised in the Philippines and internationally for its alleged summary executions, which has caused thousands of deaths from police operations.

It was reported that more than 14,000 people have been killed in the drug war since the policy was put in place this March.

On the investigation on Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad, Nur Jazlan said it was ongoing.

He said the Attorney-General’s Chambers had returned the investigation papers to the police and ordered them to probe the matter further in October.

Asked by Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) if a statement had been recorded from Dzulkifli and why there was a delay in solving the case, Nur Jazlan said he could not comment as it would be subjudice.

“The AGC was unhappy with the investigations by the police, so the case is still ongoing. So be patient,” he added.

Police are conducting a probe into a video which showed a man resembling Dzulkifli with a woman who is said to be married.