Game Over, Let's Get Down to Business |
July 8, 2000
Looking at the comedic performance by the Defence Minister Datuk Seri Najib
Tun Razak, the IGP Tan Sri Norian Mai, Lt.-Jen Datuk Zaini Mohamed Said,
the police forces and the army in the fiasco of the Al Ma’unah arm heists,
one wonders whether the Barisan Nasional government is really competent
to secure a lasting social tranquility. I am sure the capture of 27 so-called
Al Ma'unah gang members is not the end of the whole drama. The authorities
claimed that the organization has several hundreds members across the
nation. Possibly there might be a series of crackdowns against the presumed
fanatic group. In such operations, the government could conveniently pick
up political dissidents, especially those who struggle in religious
organizations.
The existence of the so-called Al Ma’unah group may also provide excuses
for the government to justify the continuation of the notorious ISA. Here
I would like to reiterate the Barisan Alternatif’s stand that the ISA
should never be used in whatever circumstances. The so-called Al Ma’unah
members should not be held under ISA—not because of human rights, but
the public want the truth to be revealed in open court. These members
should be charged and stand trial as soon as possible. We are concerned
that the government may use ISA to cover up many untold stories behind
the incidence.
To convince the public that the Al Ma’unah group has a bona fide existence,
the authorities have to be absolutely transparent in the process of
investigation. I am disturbed that Norian Mai, Najib and Abdullah Badawi
were quick to make unsubstantiated and insinuative political accusations
even before the incidence had ended conclusively. It seems that they were
eager to make the incidence part of the political propaganda soon to be
launched by the ruling parties.
The five-day commotion has left us many doubts and mysteries. The clumsy
conducts of the Al Ma’unah gang hardly resembles any sophisticated
terrorist cult. Instead, the sequences of events are akin to the familiar
episodes of Hollywood action movies. Before the authorities conclude their
inquest, we should not rule out that the gang might be inspired by
Rambo-like superheroes rather than religious zeal.
Lt-Jen Datuk Zaini and his soldiers should commended for their adventurous
and heroic endeavor to finish off the gang in 8 minutes. Their decisive
action to confront the gang contrasted the cumbersome performance of the
IGP and his team of police force. Throughout the whole event, the IGP did
not seem to treat the hostage-taking incidence seriously. The media were
not even given the accurate identities of the hostages—the accounts changed
from Chinese durian pickers to Malay Ranger and policeman; however when
the episodes ended, one Iban private and one SB were the captives.
Being the chief commander in charge of the operation, Tan Sri Norian Mai
must accept full responsibility for his negligence had led to the
unnecessary sacrifice of two servicemen. An inquiry must be established to
find out why the police was slow to establish communication with the gang.
In any hostage incidence, the normal procedure is to negotiate for the
hostage release before starting to exchange fire. I was dismayed to learn
from Bernama that Norian Mai was reported refusing to entertain their
demands because they requested "ridiculous items such as cigarettes, food
and batteries".
The IGP must answer truthfully what triggered the police to open fire at
the gang. According to news report, police had shot dead a gang member,
which provoked the revenge execution of the two hostages. Obviously, the
IGP’s failure to haul the crossfire was a fatal mistake.
The clumsy command of the IGP also gave the impression that there were
poor coordination and communication with the army. It was reported that
Datuk Zaini entered into the forest to negotiate for the gang’s surrender
without being informed that the hostages had been killed. Although Datuk
Zaini should be praised for his bravery, his decision to gamble with the
gang leader empty handed involved extraordinary high risk and fortunately
it did not lead more casualties. It is astonished that the IGP could have
disregarded their safety and approved this dangerous undertaking.
The incompetent performance of Norian Mai reflects poorly on the
proficiency of police forces. One begins to question the suitability and
the appropriateness of police forces to deal with terrorist-like incidence.
For his failure to prevent the tragic death, the IGP should be suspended.
The Defence Minister should also personally apologize to the families of
the victims since the root cause of the saga was the slackness in military
administration.
The Minister could not evade his responsibility over the
flawed security procedures in the camps, which resulted havocs to the
community around Sauk-Jenalek area and misery to the innocent families of
the victims.
To show that the government has nothing to hide, the BN should allow a
Parliamentary Inquiry consists of both ruling and opposition parties to
scrutinize all evidences related to the case. The authorities concerned
must be frank and transparent in providing all information. Otherwise the
public will continue to be skeptical over the authenticity of the so-called
Al Ma’unah terrorist group.
Tian Chua |