MB gives statement in his office, others off to Selangor IPK
Malaysiakini.com
Apr 16, 2008
Soon Li Tsin

The police today soften their earlier stand and had visited Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim’s office in Shah Alam to take a statement from him in regards to a probe into the Monday night Black 14 gathering. MCPX

pakatan rakyat assemblyperson selangor kl forum 150408 khalid pcThe police arrived at Khalid’s office at about 1pm and completed their task in about twenty minutes.

However they are still insistent of having three other PKR leaders - including party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and party vice-president Azmin Ali - to go to the Selangor police headquarters, also at Shah Alam, to give their statements on the same matter.

A stand-off between the police and the party occurred this morning when the former refused to take statements at the menteri besar’s office. They had instead summoned all the PKR leaders to the state police headquarters for that purpose.

The impasse was only solved after discussions between the party lawyers and the police with a compromise being achieved with the menteri besar being allowed to give his statement in his office while the rest needing to go to the police headquarters.

Khalid, who had earlier cancelled his weekly exco meeting as well as some of his programmes for today, also accompanied the other three PKR leaders to the police HQ. He stayed with them for awhile before heading back to his office.

Police double standards

Wan Azizah, Azmin and Yahya came out of the police headquarters at about 3.45pm.

“We have answered all their questions and we will leave it to the police now,” she told reporters.

black 14 questioning 160408 wan azizah“If you compare what had happened here if it was Umno, it would seem that we are getting more attention,” she added. She said that her interview took place for about 25 minutes.

Azmin meanwhile said that they were still waiting for the police to give them a copy of the police report made against the gathering.

“Our counsel have written to the police but until today we are unable to get a copy of this report,” he said.

When asked if he thought this was a form of harassment against the party, Azmin said that party officials had a series of meetings with the police prior to the event.

“Even on the day itself, they send down senior offices to discuss the traffic flow,” he added.

He said that he was also unsure if party’s de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim would be called in for questioning.

The PKR vice president pointed out that the event was never officially called ‘Black 14' and it was hosted privately by the club chairperson, who is Khalid.

black 14 questioning 160408 azmin aliHe also rebutted the police’s claims that they were not informed about Anwar’s presence at that gathering.

“The media was the one who called the gathering ‘Black 14'. (Khalid) was the chairperson of the club and in his press release, he expressly stated that Anwar will be the special guest speaker.

“The police claim that it was a dinner event. Is it wrong for people to be giving speeches during dinner time?” he questioned.

The chain of event started yesterday morning when the police visited the homes of Wan Azizah, Khalid, Azmin and Yahya Sahri, an aide of Khalid to investigate into the gathering.

The police claimed that the gathering was illegal and conducted without a police permit.

Lawyers in discussion

However following their failure to obtain any statements from the PKR leaders, the police had then summoned them to the Dang Wangi police station at 3pm yesterday.

The party eventually decided not to go to the station unless the police showed them a copy of the police report said to have been lodged over the gathering.

anwar ibrahim april 14 kg baru event 150408 13Other leaders like Wan Azizah also had said that she had programmes scheduled for the whole day and would be unable to go to the police station.

Following that, the media was informed late last night that the PKR leaders would be able to meet with the police at Khalid’s office at the Selangor state building in Shah Alam this morning.

The leaders - and the media - were waiting for the arrival of the police since early morning today, only to discover that the police has refused to come over to the state building.

Khalid’s political secretary Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said that the police had faxed in their refusal this morning.

“Instead they want us to go to the Selangor police headquarters in Shah Alam. We are presently discussing our next step with our lawyers,” he told Malaysiakini.

Copyright © 1999-2007 Mkini Dotcom Sdn. Bhd.
Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news//81420