IGP assures 'check and balances' for 'new EO'

The proposed new legislation to replace the now defunct Emergency Ordinance(EO) would not necessarily go against human rights principles, said Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.

The Inspector-General of Police stressed that a few mechanisms, including putting in place ‘check and balances’, can ensure that there would not be abuse of power in regards to the new law.

“A lot of people are not happy with the EO because of its abuse, because this law does not require you to bring someone to court,” said Khalid in an exclusive interview with Astro AWANI.

“For this new law, there can be more ‘check and balances’ imposed. We can go to court, I don’t mind,” he added.

He explained that to avoid abuse of power, the Home Ministry has proposed that an independent panel, that would perhaps be made up of experts such as former judges, would monitor the processes.

Khalid said that the Home Minister himself has expressed that the executive body do not want powers to grant the detention of a person under the previous EO law.

Towards the end of 2011, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced the repeal of the EO together with the Internal Security Act and the Banishment Act.

However, of late, the abolishing of the EO has come under scrutiny as some quarters, including the police, have claimed that the release of some 2,600 detainees has contributed to more violent crimes.

Following the recent spate of shooting cases, Najib had recently expressed the government’s willingness to consider ‘anything’ to help police combat crime.

"We asked for a new law to replace EO, we also know that Najib has already given the approval so that a new law can be made as soon as possible,” he said.

Khalid said that a major problem faced by the police is now the reluctance of witnesses to come forward to testify in court against criminals.

“Under the old EO, the witnesses did not need to give testimony in open court, so his identity is kept secret.”

“So when we did away with the EO. Witnesses no longer wanted to give us their statements, this made the criminals arrogant, because they know no one would dare come forward to implicate him,” he said.

This issue, said Khalid, are among the matters brought to the attention of the Attorney General’s Chambers.

Aside from this new law, Khalid said that the police are also taking other steps to combat violent crimes, but said that these actions cannot be revealed yet.