Bar Council: Ex-IGP unfit to lead panel
The Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee says the former IGP disqualified himself by calling some of the Bersih 3.0 protesters communists.
(Free Malaysia Today) – The Bar Council said former Inspector General of Police Hanif Omar is not suitable to head the independent panel to probe the violence that took place during the Bersih 3.0 rally.
Speaking at a press conference after chairing the Bar Council’s extraordinary general meeting (EGM) today, its president Lim Chee Wee said Hanif had disqualified himself by taking a stand against Bersih 3.0 earlier.
“It’s unfortunate that the former IGP had referred to some of the protesters as communists,” he added.
On April 28, tens of thousands marched in the nation’s capital but the rally was marred with reports of police assaulting scores of protesters and journalists.
Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein announced the formation of the six-member panel on Wednesday with Hanif heading the investigation team.
However, Hanif had reportedly told the media earlier that some of the demonstrators were communists as he claimed to recognise their faces.
Meanwhile, Lim said he was disappointed when Hanif had alleged that the rally was aimed at overthrowing the government.
“In my view, panel member Steve Sim (former Sabah and Sarawak chief justice) is more qualified to head the panel,” he added.
