Something amiss, IGP Khalid
(Malaysia Outlook) – Umno Youth vice chief Khairul Azwan Harun’s police report on July 26 against three ‘Tan Sris’ may have raised many eyebrows.
But the bigger shocker was the Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar’s swift decision to close the case as “no further action” (NFA).
No investigation papers! Khairul’s allegations will not be probed further.
Something amiss here.
Many wonder on what basis the IGP Khalid just dismissed a police report of such magnitude as “hearsay.”
Khairul Azwan had reportedly claimed to have in his possession evidence relating to the involvement of former Bank Negara Governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz, former Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Abu Kassim Mohamed and former Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail in a plot to overthrow the Malaysian government and Prime Minister Najib Razak.
In his report lodged at the Dang Wangi police station, Khairul had accused the trio of deliberately falsifying, distorting and disseminating confidential information to agencies, notably the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).
Speculations have been rife that the three former top government officers had given out certain classified documents to DOJ without the sanction of Putrajaya.
But Khalid was fast in shutting the case without any investigation. Why?
“We have recorded his statement and we found Khairul Azwan made the report based on assumptions. He could not submit any evidence to support what is stated in the police report,” said Khalid.
A lawyer argued that the case was virtually unprecedented as the country had hardly heard any case previously that high profile government officers been probed for disseminating classified information to foreign agencies or, committing treason or espionage.
Even if the three Tan Sris had handed over relevant documents to foreign agencies to assist an investigation, he said it would have been difficult to establish a strong case the trio.
“Being top officers, the trio can actually provide certain documents to foreign agencies to assist certain investigations. It’s would be on government-to-government basis.
“But then it also depends on the type of documents,” said the lawyer, adding that a thorough police investigation into Khairul’s report would have shed some light on the allegations.
Public skepticism is on the IGP Khalid’s shot gun speed to brush aside Khairul’s report.
It has baffled all.
Khairul said Khalid’s decision had now put the case in a “Mexican standoff”, which means a deadlock between two or more parties.
What the IGP Khalid should have done, notwithstanding on whether there was evidence or not, was that to allow proper investigation to be carried out on such a politically sensitive report.
He should have allowed the deputy public prosecutor (DPP) office or even the Attorney-General (AG) Chambers, not him, to make the decision to whether press a charge or not on the trio.
Khalid should have been more discreet.
A police report claiming a conspiracy to topple a legitimately elected prime minister and federal government, and three high profile government officers of deliberately falsifying, distorting and disseminating confidential information to foreign agencies is a serious allegation.
The report demands instinctive probe, not rebuff.
Indeed the report demands a special task force to investigate the allegations.
Khairul has said he had evidence to substantiate his claims.
Did Khalid see the evidence before making his decision?
