-M.Kulasegaran, April 15, 2014

Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday defended the police’s decision to ignore the abduction of Deepa’s son by her former husband, saying it was the Home Ministry’s “official stand” not to intervene.

Zahid became a laughing stock when he declared in February that there was nothing for the Police to investigate on the slap threat against DAP MP for Seputeh Teresa Kok.

It is obvious that he has either not learned the lesson of thinking hard enough before speaking or has not improved his knowledge of laws.

The snatching of the boy by Deepa’s ex-husband was a clear cut kidnapping which the Police ought to have swiftly acted on.

Present tourism minister Nazri Aziz who was the de facto minister of law when the Cabinet made the decision to ban unilateral conversions in April 2009 has told the Star a few days ago that the case was a clear cut kidnapping.

I have said in my statement dated April 12 that the Police’s refusal to act on the kidnapping was most shocking, unprofessional and irresponsible.

I further said:  “As correctly pointed by former Law Minister Nazri, the issue was a clear cut kidnapping and that the couple had a civil law marriage.

“Therefore, the IGP is duty bound to act. If he is still unclear about the issue, he should seek advice from Nazri.

“If he is not prepared to carry out his duty, then he will have failed in his responsibilities and role as a law enforcer and the option left will be for him to tender his resignation as the nation’s top cop.”

It is obvious that Zahid is also too arrogant to either consult or listen to Nazri. His backing for the IGP can only be described as equally shocking, unprofessional and irresponsible. Zahid may be a misfit in the present cabinet.

Let’s not forget what Mahathir had to say about the then Abdullah’s cabinet when he remarked as a “ half-past six government”. Is Najib’s Cabinet any better?

If the Police do not uphold the law, where can the public turn to?

Zahid must either retract his support for IGP’s stand or he must tender his resignation as the Home Minister.