Update public on Surik’s case, See tells police chief

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See Chee How

KUCHING: Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How has called on Serian district police chief DSP Mohd Jamali Umi to enlighten the public on the progress of police investigation into the police report lodged by Rosni Langap on March 15.

Besides that, Mohd Jamali was also asked to update the public on the seizure of a considerable stock of firearm and dangerous weapons at the workers’ quarters of the plantation company in Melikin on Sept 30 and actions taken so far.

“In the March 15 Serian police report No. 000897/13, Puan Rosni of Kampung Danau Krangas, Melikin, reported that her husband Surik Muntai was brutally attacked by five armed men, and they identified one of the assailants as from the plantation company working in their area.

“As a result of the vicious attack, Surik was badly wounded and was hospitalised for two months,” See, who is also state PKR vice-chairman told The Borneo Post yesterday.

He said on Oct 4, the police presented to the press in Kuching, a stash of weapons confiscated during a raid of the workers’ quarters belonging to the oil palm plantation that was implicated in Surik’s brutal assault.

The weapons included a Cannon 737 calibre .177 air rifle, a homemade shotgun, two ‘kwan dao’ (Chinese pole weapon similar to samurai), a pouch containing eight boxes of air rifle ammo, a 12-gauge shotgun shell, a 27 Kal 7.65mm pistol loaded with three bullets, box containing 20 Mirage 12-gauge shotgun shells, a tin containing six 7.65mm bullets and further ammunition.

In connection with the raid and seizure of these weapons, the police said they were following the movements of the known suspect.

See hoped that that Mohd Jamali had inadvertently missed out these two important cases in his press conference on Wednesday.

“Otherwise, it will give rise to and fuel confusion and anxieties amongst the public who are concerned with the well-being of the villagers in Melikin and its vicinity.”

“DSP Mohd Jamali Umi has been the district police chief even before the dispute arose between the plantation companies and the native villagers. As a senior and experienced police officer, his dismissive statement, that the plantation company has the licence over the area allegedly claimed to be NCR land and adjudged the picture posted on the front page of The Borneo Post has nothing to do with illegal logging, is wholly mistaken.”

See said Mohd Jamali should have known, from his experience, that provisional land leases for plantation and timber licenses are in law subjected to native customary rights of the local native communities and villagers.

“I do not know whether it is the practice and standard procedures for the district police chief to meet with the representatives of the two plantation companies and allowed them to air their grievances against each other, when heinous crimes were committed and have affected others and threatened the peace and public security of the region.

“I certainly hope that the Serian police force will conduct themselves professionally and impartially to ensure the peace and security of this troubled region,” See stated.