IGP: Surendran can sue on Dr M’s outriders
IGP Khalid Abu Bakar denies police are taking sides in politics and assures that they will not compromise on former premier’s safety.
PETALING JAYA: PKR’s N Surendran is free to seek legal recourse if he is unhappy over the withdrawal of police outriders for certain events attended by former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said this when responding to the Padang Serai MP’s comments that the move was “improper, unreasonable and unlawful”.
Khalid told FMT that Malaysia was a free country and while the lawyer was entitled to his view, his claims that police were taking sides in politics were untrue.
“I only decided that the police outriders should not be used for events and functions which are considered illegal,” he said, adding this included gatherings which did not have the necessary permits from the authorities.
Khalid explained that the presence of police escorts would be evaluated and determined on a case-by-case basis.
However, he stressed that police would not compromise on Mahathir’s safety.
It was earlier reported that Surendran said Mahathir had the right to go anywhere he chose to and that it was no concern of the IGP.
Surendran said the police escorts were provided in view of Mahathir’s status as the country’s former prime minister and for his safety.
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Prior to that, Khalid had announced that Mahathir would no longer be escorted by police outriders to any future events which were considered unlawful and a breach of the Federal Constitution.