sideviews

My favourite IGP – Zaid Ibrahim

February 23, 2016

It has been a week since I announced my plan to hold a gathering on March 27 of Malaysians who want Datuk Seri Najib Razak to step down. I have received many questions and requests for clarification from readers and I have put these together so we can understand the issues better.

First, a short reply to the inspector-general of police (IGP). March 27 is not a street gathering of anti-Najib or pro-Mahathir forces. This is a gathering of citizens concerned that the police has abandoned the rule of law and Najib is above the law. When I used the word “rally behind Tun M” it refers to giving support to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, not a public protest on the street with Tun M. Simple English.

March 27 will be a peaceful gathering of citizens who want those who abuse the law to be punished and who want those who harbour these criminals to be made accountable and responsible.

Q: The inspector-general of police has given you a warning not to proceed with the rally. What do you say?

Firstly, I expect IGP to be professional policeman. He should tell us if he has done any investigation on the police reports lodged against the PM.

The job of a police officer like the IGP is not to protect Najib or any person, and he must not use his position to intimidate people or misrepresent what the law is in order to prevent people from expressing their views on the PM.

We the people have our constitutional right to gather peacefully and express our views about Najib, just like Najib fans have the right to praise him.

Q: Some NGOs have not accepted your invitation because you are seen to be promoting Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad. Is that true?

Invitations will be made to those individuals who have the stomach to speak truthfully about the scandals surrounding us regardless from which organisation they are from. We live in a free country so anyone who does not want to attend because they either don’t like me or Dr Mahathir are free to do so.

I have received overwhelming support from those who know they are supporting change. Change has to start with a complete and thorough investigation on Najib and the role of the Attorney General and the IGP on 1MDB and SRC.

However, on Dr M I must say this: Dr Mahathir wants the system to change as much — if not more — than the so-called reformists. I became his supporter because I see sincerity in his desire to transform the way the government is managed. Only sincerity and love for the country could have compelled a 90-year-old man to continue in politics and work tirelessly. There is no other reason.

Dr Mahathir is in some ways responsible for the evolution of our political culture, but that does not disqualify him as leader of the movement for change. He wants to move forward.

Q: Will PAS and PKR join the gathering?

I don’t know but I would like to think that there are progressives in both parties; so those leaders will be invited.

However, I am encouraged by the whole-hearted support given me by the Amanah leadership and by Lim Kit Siang and the DAP. I am also encouraged by the support given me by Umno dissidents. They too want to see real change because whatever policies they think are useful for Malays cannot be implemented if leaders are stealing money from government coffers.

Q: What happens after March 27?

I don’t have the full plan because I am not the leader of the movement for change. I am a volunteer and will just help organise the 27 March meeting. There must a follow-up, of course. From Johor to Perlis and to Sabah and Sarawak, we must be united. Unity will ensure we have a new system of government after the next election where laws are observed, where corrupt leaders cannot escape punishment, and where civil servants would not dare harbour criminals. We must go down to the people and have a thousand ceramah.

Q: What about those leaders such as Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir? Do they support the movement for change?

I believe they do and that they will give strong support. They have their followers on the ground and they cannot just leave them behind. They are top leaders in Umno, so it’s unthinkable that they will just let Najib off the hook. With the unity of Umno dissidents, Amanah and others, we have a great chance to have a “people’s government” – and it will be a government that is honest with the people.

What name do you have for this movement?<

“Sayangi Negara Kita”, but you can think of something better, pass it on to Dr Mahathir. – zaid.my, February 23, 2016.

* Datuk Zaid Ibrahim is a lawyer turned politician and a former minister in the prime minister's department in charge of legal affairs and judicial reform.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer, organisation or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.