Pantai Batu Burok
Sep 13th, 2007 by Tian
At noon 12:00hr 12 Sept, a delegation of PAS and KeADILan leaders appeared at Bukit Aman to demand police conduct professional investigation on the shooting at Pantai Batu Burok.
I flew in from Langkawi that morning (12 Sept), and reached Bukit Aman just in time. Earlier, there was a protest against the privatization of public healthcare at Selayang Hospital organized by a coalition of NGO and parties. I was not in time to attend.
The Pantai Batu Burok incident reflected the absence of professionalism and ethic in our police force. The police and the Government as a whole expressed no remorse over the tragedy of two young person shot by police. Instead the event was manipulated for a smearing campaign against the opposition especially towards KeADILan.
TV and news repeatedly playing the scene of burning flag by a mysterious youth. The media is trying to mobilize the public to condemn such unpatriotic act.
The issue here is not flag burning. I am not sure who was the youth who burned the national flag, and his actual motive. Some people suspect he was an agent provocateur of the police.
This could well be true. However flag burning was a small part of the tragedy. The question is what was the motive of plain-cloth Special Branch officer shooting at civilians. Why did he shoot? There were so many versions of the shooting incident and no high-ranked police officers offered any satisfactory explanation.
For this very serious offense alone, the police must have an immediate disciplinary inquiry. At the same time, investigation by neutral and external body must be conducted.
Yet the prime minister made thoughtless comment on the incident.
While all sides are calling for inquiry, the PM expressed no interest to find out the truth. He not only said an inquiry is unnecessary, he pointed finger at the opposition for instigating the violence.
PM Abdullah Badawi is now acting as a judge. He needs no investigation and is able to conclude that the incident was created by the opposition. We have a superman PM, do we still need the court?
time and time again whenever there is an incident occurring such as the one in Terengganu, the government is fast in pointing fingers at the Opposition. at the same time, the Opposition is also fast at pointing fingers back at the government for the way they deal with the issue at hand not to mention the number of accussations the government seem to be throwing at the Opposition which they (the Opposition) tries to play down and deny. the Opposition will also be seen demanding for Royal Inquiries, sending protest notes and memorandum to the government as what has been indicated in this article. but is this ever effective or just to gain a small space in the news daily or even in the electronic media. the government will continue to ignore it whilst the public will only brush it aside and consider both sides as playing ‘bangsawan’ whilst the rakyat seems to be the victims.
for me, i think it is high time that, this act of trying to defend oneself against the other is un-necessary anymore as it doesn’t have an effect. but what is more important is the strategy of the Opposition in trying to gain some grounds especially with the coming election. yes, there are efforts made but is it ever effective or there is a need to change strategy. no use to keep on shouting till your lungs jumps out at the government when one knows this is not effective rather counter-productive. perhaps it is time for the Opposition to review its strategy in the sense, hit it where it hurts the most which is through the people and that it should equal to votes.
i can clearly remember for instance, many many years ago coming across through reading of course how the Communist influenced party actually hatching their strategy based on the concept of housewives going around their neighbour’s houses when their respective husbands are away working to start campaigning for the party. in addition, they will also organize many other activities like cooking demonstrations, and playing an active role within the community to ensure that the needs of the community are met in some ways and that through the actions of these members others are encouraged and influenced by them.
these small exercise though small in nature when combined plays an effective means of changing and influencing the people around. some BN government parties are in actual fact using these tactics at some point of time but it has some what not continued for reasons unknown and it is highly effective in the rural communities perhaps not so much in the urban areas but other methods with similar strategy is still available and effective such as in residential or housing areas where it can be implemented under a cloak of disguise.
at the end of the day, using these tactics may be considered by some as out of date, but then again when you closely examine it is through this tactics simple yet innocent which is the most effective way which touches a person’s heart and feelings when the world seems not to care especially in times of needs and troubles. i for myself have never come across the Opposition engaging in these method before but i do frequently see them engaging in heated debates and arguments during their cheramahs either at housing areas, individual homes or most commonly the kopitiams ! …
Opposition members should realise that in order to make sense and also to gain ground, they should not depend on those few speakers to speak for the party or their interest but be committed to find a ways as to how to be more effective and promote their views and gaining members and votes. there are more ways to skin a cat ! ..
Is there any difference between our police and gangster?