PETALING JAYA: Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (PN-Kubang Kerian) claims that the ruling parties are using the police to harass opposition politicians by excessively monitoring and recording their activities.
Speaking in Parliament today, the PAS deputy president said he has received complaints about the misuse of “security teams” in election campaigns, including in Sungai Bakap, where a by-election will be held on July 6.
“Many policemen have been ordered to make recordings of ceramahs, with some sometimes seeing 10 recordings. Recordings are even being made in the operations rooms.
“This violates our basic right to organise political activities. More monitoring than is needed is being carried out,” he said.
Tuan Ibrahim said he had been followed by policemen taking photographs of his donations, including rice, to the people.
“They take pictures of the donations. Pictures of who I invite. It is as if the security teams are being misused to protect the parties in power, not the people’s right to carry out political activities,” he said.
At this point, RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) interjected, citing Standing Order 36(8), which says that the conduct or character of “persons engaged in the administration of justice” shall not be referred to except upon a substantive motion moved for that purpose.
“You claim that every time we campaign or go to a constituency, the government sends the police to disturb our peace or threaten us.
“I ask the speaker to make a ruling that we cannot simply criticise the police. They are only doing their jobs and cannot defend themselves in this hall,” he said.
Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Ramli Nor then said Tuan Ibrahim’s claims had no relevance to the issue being discussed and instructed him to wrap up his speech.
