Chow Kon Yeow: 曹观友

“Bruised and scarred” screamed the Page 2 headline on the Star on Monday 7 November 2005. The report continues:

“Her face, chest and back appeared to have been scalded by boiling water.

There was a cut on her hand while her arms and legs were patterned with bruises and scars.

Tan Sing Nee, nine years old, was found wandering alone in Pekan Tikam Batu by a trader at 9pm on Saturday.

The Year Two pupil, who was shabbily dressed, complained she was hungry as she had not eaten that day.

The police detained her parents, a 45-year-old businessman and his 35-year-old wife (step-mother), the same night.

Kuala Muda OCPD ACP Law Hong Soon said police were now investigating the case under the Child Act 2001.

An offender could be fined up to RM20, 000 or jailed not more than 10 years, or both.”

The above child abuse case happened seven months ago. One would have expected the police to charge the father and maybe the stepmother of Sing Nee. But that was not the case.

Last Saturday, Madam Loh, the natural mother of Sing Nee came to seek my assistance. She cried that the police have not charge the suspects yet and she was given the runabout whenever she contacted the police, welfare department and hospital for information.

Madam Loh poured out her anger at a Press Conference.

The journalists were very sympathetic and took a keen interest on the well-being of Sing Nee. When the case was reported last November, many offered to adopt the girl and sent wishes to the adorable girl.

After the Press Conference, a few reporters called ACP Law Hong Soon for an update of the case.

When I read his reply the following day, I was aghast.

He said that the police have not received the medical report from the hospital and therefore they have not continued with the case.

His reply infuriated me as this is nonsensical. Did the police even bother to go after the hospital for the reports?
It is this type of attitude that make people angry with the performance of the police.

According to police statistics, PDRM is able to resolve 48 percent of all cases and they are very happy about the success rate in closing cases and bringing them to court.

But what about the 52 percent of unresolved cases which run into thousands of cases each year.

Clearly in Sing Nee’s case, the police could do a better job to mete out justice.

The Backbenchers Club organized a meeting to allow Umno MPs and Senators to show its undivided support for Abdullah’s leadership, following a scathing attack by Dr Mahathir on his successor.

It is sometime difficult to comprehend where Umno MPs actually stand on issues affecting the country.

The present batch of Umno MPs has so far proven to be erratic and inconsistent in their expressed stands.

So many of them expressed support for the scenic bridge and called on the government to simply ignore Singapore’s demand and just build the bridge.

But when Abdullah scrapped the project, they made an abrupt turn and obediently toed the lines.

Umno MPs were very vocal in objecting Abdullah’s initiative on the IPCMC. Clearly at that time, certain Umno MPs were questioning Abdullah’s wisdom in endorsing the IPCMC.

Umno MPs were very quiet when the police made treacherous remarks and threats in their website against the government for proposing the IPCMC. Although the police was undermining the moral and legitimate authority of the Prime Minister, Umno MPs did not see fit to give their undivided support to Abdullah.

And now, Umno MPs are throwing their support to Abdullah in the face of Dr Mahathir’s criticisms. For them, it is the man that matters, not the issue.

But the scenario might have changed if Dr Mahathir were to attack Abdullah for the latter’s endorsement of the IPCMC. If he did, Umno MPs would be put in a quandary.

Would they then support Abdullah, the man or Dr Mahathir on the IPCMC, the issue?