DPM: Cops did not abuse power
BAGAN DATOH: The police did not abuse their power in carrying out arrests prior to the Bersih 5 and Red Shirt rallies, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said their action was in accordance with the law to prevent untoward incidents.
“How is it abuse of power (as claimed by certain quarters) when the police also covered members of the Red Shirt movement?
“There will be more arrests, but the list of people will not be revealed to the public,” said Zahid, who is also home minister.
He said this during his visit at Kampung Simpang Tiga here yesterday where he handed aid to flood victims.
Zahid said he would leave it to Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and the force on the next course of action against the rally participants of both groups.
He said the early arrests were a sign to ensure all parties abided by the law so that there would not be chaos.
“All those arrested may face charges,” he said.
Police had been carried out arrests since Friday.
Those arrested include Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah and Red Shirts group leader Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos.
On a different development, Zahid said higher bunds would be built along the shoreline here as mitigation against the hightide phenomenon.
“Other measures include improving the capacity of the floodgate and ensuring that structures built over drains meet the specifications set by the authorities.
“Some villagers have built bridges (over the drain in front of their house) using culverts that are small.
“This could cause rubbish to clog the drains, compounding the matter,” he said, urging residents to be more responsible and to not dispose of their garbage in the drains.
Residents from 215 houses in the district were affected by the hightide phenomenon since last Thursday, which also damaged their crops.