There are only two options. Either Tun Hanif withdraws himself and declines the appointment or the Cabinet overrides Home Minister’s decision and appoints a suitable new person to head the Panel.

Speech by M Kula Segaran , DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at Political Ceramah held in Gopeng, Perak.

There are only two options. Either Tun Hanif withdraws himself and declines the appointment or the Cabinet overrides Home Minister’s decision and appoints a suitable new person to head the Panel.

The Bersih 2.0 rally held on July 9 last year was hailed  as a historic day because about 50,000  people of all races had turned up for the event to demand free and fair elections. 

The participants knew they would face police arrests, water cannon and tear gas, yet they courageously turned up for the event. 

The 428 sit in protest held last month was even more historic when about 200, 000 people turned up to voice their demands. 

The fight for free and fair election is part and parcel in the fight for democracy. 

Undoubtedly, 428 is going to go down in history as a very important chapter in Malaysians’ struggle for  a vibrant, progressive and true democracy. 

However, 428 was also a day of shame for police professionalism and the BN’s government’s political transformation. 

Not only were there excessive and indiscriminate police force against the participants, even media reporters and photographers became the victims.

Some media personnel’s cameras were seized, some suffered injuries and were detained. 

We all know in a war, hospitals and medical personnel cannot be and are not attacked.  If soldiers don’t attack medical personnel, likewise, police must not attack media personnel who are carrying out their duty of covering a demonstration. 

Hence, what ought to be done is the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry ( RCI )  to investigate all violence and brutality which happened on 428 and ensure justice to all the victims. 

However, when the formation of a RCI is a common thing in a true democracy, the BN government has a phobia about RCI. An independent Panel is formed instead. 

It is baffling that former inspector general of police Tun Hanif was appointed to head the Panel. 

Pakatan Rakyat, Bersih Committee and Bar Council and many more organizations have voiced their objections against Tun Hanif’s appointment. 

We do not doubt Tun Hanif’s personal integrity, but he is certainly not a suitable candidate after what he had said about the 428 event. 

How could he sit on the Panel when he had said that the 428 demonstration was aimed at overthrowing the government? 

In fact, for having made such a statement, Hanif should appear before the Panel as a witness to substantiate his claim.

Last night at the Umno 66^th anniversary celebration at Bulit Jalil stadium, the Prime Minister laid out seven principles to guide the people in making their assessment and consideration for the coming general election. 

Let me ask Najib if he understands and accepts the important principle that the Panel members must be credible and impartial, they must also be seen to be so? 

Hanif’s appointment is certainly a clear violation of such a principle.

There are no two ways about it if the government is serious about setting up a credible Panel which can command public confidence. 

There are only two options. Either Tun Hanif withdraws himself and declines the appointment or the Cabinet overrides Home Minister’s decision and appoints a suitable new person to head the Panel.