Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email Who is bigger Home Minister or Biro Pengaduan Awam (Public Complaints Bureau)?
I still remember Murugiah saying that PM told him to improve the Bureau.
So, when Murugiah sees it fit to go and investigate Teresa Kok’ complaint that the food served during ISA detention was….wait, let me get this right, “similar to dog food” (or is it “little better than dog food?), naturally the Home Minister gets into a fit (wow, I used two “fits” in a sentences!).
Syed Hamid who is becoming well-known for his gaffes, said:
“Murugiah had better look after his own ministry.
“It is not his job … he is the deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and if there is anything for him to gripe about, he should bring it to the attention of the prime minister,” Syed Hamid said when asked about a memorandum that Murugiah said he would submit to the ministry.
“I don’t answer to him,” said Syed Hamid, adding that the food served to detainees met international standards.
In The Star, Syed Hamid was more blunt:
Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said Murugiah’s action in speaking on behalf of Seputeh MP Teresa Kok on complaints she was not served proper meals while in detention was akin to being a spokesman for the Opposition.
“What he has done is not right. I hope he knows how to look after his own turf. He should not interfere in other people’s affairs. That is not his work.
“If there is a problem, he should take the matter to the prime minister,” he told reporters…
Obviously Teresa Kok will try to make this into a big issues, but regardless she is opposition or not, she’s still a citizen who made a complaint against the police. His comments seems to say that only the pro-goverment rakyat will get due attention. He also thinks that Murugiah should not interfere, but the focus of the Bureau is to investigate and report, so interference is expected. Unless Syed Hamid and his Ministry is above the law.
Murugiah will be sending a report to PM Badawi and Home Ministry after concluding his investigation. He says the allocation of Rm4.50 per prisoner is too little, while the Home Minister says it meets the requirements.
On his actions, Murugiah said that the Bureau was empowered to investigate complaints against the public sector, which of course includes the police.
Murugiah pointed out that the Public Complaints Bureau was empowered to investigate complaints against civil servants and government agencies.
He had earlier said: “We want transparency. I’m quite serious about this and I don’t want this to be swept under the carpet” and that “detainees must be treated as human beings”.
On his scope of power, Murugiah had said: “We don’t need to get permission from any ministry. We can just walk in, do the investigation and take immediate action.”
Only time will tell if Murugiah is removed from his post.
not surprised at all reading an umno minister’s backfire . It’s typical culture and mindset.