Oops, slip of tongue, Minister!

Malaysian politicians say the darnest things...........

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http://www.freemalaysiakini2.com/?p=27175

Hisham: Photo equipment seized as part of SOP

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the confiscation of memory cards and cameras belonging to journalists during the Bersih 3.0 rally were part of the police’s standard operating procedure (SOP).

Speaking at the Kuala Lumpur general hospital, Hishammuddin said this when asked why the items were seized since he claimed that the police had nothing to hide.
“I don’t know. This is the standard operating procedure of police…,” he said.
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How can the minister contradict himself in one sentence? "I don't know" and "standard operating procedure" should not come in the same sentence.

For example, if you ask a surgeon what is the expensive, risky and painful procedure is to be taken, how much confidence would you have if the surgeon paraphased Hishammuddin and says "I don't know. This is the  standard operating procedure of the hospital...."?


What motivated this statement from the minister is interesting....

Was he surprised by the brutal and illegal assault by irresponsible police officers on journalists?

Did he think that Malaysians are still so gullible and unthinking that with a broad brush "standard operating procedure" answer, he could get away from being accountable?

Let's see that International Federation of Journalists have to say.....

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http://www.ifj.org/en/pages/human-rights

The IFJ is opposed to discrimination of all kinds and condemns the use of media as propaganda or to promote intolerance and conflict. The IFJ believes in media pluralism and freedom of political and cultural expression.

We defend trade union and other basic human rights by:

Protesting against physical threats, attacks and other attempts to silence or intimidate journalists, and by monitoring media regulation worldwide.
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The police under Hishammuddin's watch has violated the basic rights of journalists, domestic and foreign. By the way, is there sufficient evidence to suggest that local controlled main stream media such as Utusan Malaysia are being used " as propaganda or to promote intolerance and conflict" ?

The minister also fails to explain and justify the police's action and left the hot potato to the police chief

To this layman, not only the minister fail to explain the reasons for police brutality against journalists, but does he realise that the police personnel involved in destroying cameras could have committed the following offences?

* destruction of evidence relating to criminal offences hence obstruction to justice
* wilful destruction of private property
* physical assault on journalists

Everybody does something for a motive, unless one is a lunatic. So one wonders why some police officers take such keen interest in journalists' tools of trade?

In Bersih 2.0, photographs and short films nailed the police pretty good.

Just give me a better reason and prove me wrong, minister.

Time to revive the IPCMC seriously to justify tax payers' money and ensure citizens' safety; otherwise the Rakyat Diutamakan in the over exposed 1Malaysia slogan continues to ring hallow.