IGP: Rafizi’s arrest according to law and police SOP

JOHOR BAHARU: Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar has defended the arrest of Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli outside the Parliament building, two days ago, in that it was conducted according to the law and police standard operating procedures (SOP).

However, he also stressed the arrest was made after the police confirmed with the Accountant-General the document exposed by Rafizi was classified as secret under the Official Secrets Act 1972.

“Whatever done by the police is within the law, there is no law that says we cannot arrest anybody, anywhere, except for the immunity of MPs (members of parliament) in the Parliament house.

“But of course, we do not choose to arrest people in the Parliament compound but we took action against him outside the Parliament compound. It means outside the gate, after the guard-house.

“So, I am defending the action of my officers in carrying their responsibilities. Critics will continue to criticise why we arrested him there but it does not matter, so long as it is according to police SOP and within the confines of the authority provided to police,” he told reporters at the Johor police contingent headquarters here yesterday.

Khalid was commenting on Rafizi’s detention for exposing a document classified as secret on Tuesday.

He said all parties should be aware that any disclosure of a government secret document was a serious criminal act under the law as it could threaten the country’s security and prosperity.

“If there is a need to disclose, there are ways. Wait until the document has been tabled by the Public Accounts Committee in Parliament, after that one can comment on it as it is no longer a secret document,” he said.

The arrest of Rafizi, who is PKR vice-president and secretary-general, was to facilitate investigations on his allegations against the Armed Forces Fund Board. The Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court yesterday issued a three-day remand order on him. — Bernama