Silly comment from MCA Adun for Padang Lalang Tan Teik Cheng.

MCA Adun for Padang Lalang, Tan Teik Cheng’s comment that the policewoman who forced the ladies to ear-squat in nude is most silly, indicating that he does not understand how rule-of-law works in this nation and the core concern of the issue.

Those with little legal knowledge should understand that “an-eye-for-an-eye” is a negative resort to respond to this issue and it should therefore be rejected. Even it is believed that the policewoman should be penalised for such inhumane act of forcing the lady to ear-squat in nude, but she should not be penalised the same humiliative way. If there is such call from anyone else, then what is the difference between this person and the policewoman? Such “false-heroism” is equally violating rules and regulation in this country and should be condemned heavily as this is the real cheap publicity.

As a State Legislative Hall Assemblyman, Tan Teik Cheng should in fact stress on rule-of-law. Being a county ruled by law, we have act and regulations to charge any police officers who abuse their powers. Nobody can neither run the law in their hand unless a punishment or penalty has been decided by the court after going through all the necessary legal procedure, nor call for “an-eye-for-an-eye” type of penalty to be imposed on malpracticing police officers.

Instead of coming out with such silly statement, it is mind-boggling that Tan Teik Cheng has failed understand the nucleus of the issue, that such incidents represent a fast-spreading syndrome in our 100,000-strong police force, that is the violation of human rights, whether there will be any political will of the current administration to clean-up the entire police force and also how serious does the police treat the constructive and genuine criticism from the public.

Therefore, we urge MCA representatives to speak-up in a rational way through various resources they have. Even if they do not dare to say anything, they should at least ensure that their representatives can speak carefully and not “advocate” for “an-eye-for-an-eye” type of punishment in order to preserve the good name of the country.

Lau Weng San
8th December 2005.