Tanda Putera movie, police inquiry bill on agenda of 15 NGOs on Monday
By Muzliza Mustafa and Kimberly Yeo
More than 15 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are planning to gather in front of Parliament to push for three important issues including the tabling of the Independent Police Complaints Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) on Monday.
National Indian-Rights Action Team (NIAT) chairman Datuk Thasleem Mohamed Ibrahim said they want the bill to be tabled so that necessary improvements can be made for the benefit of all, including the police.
Thasleem said from what he understood, police were not totally against the IPCMC.
"It is the politicians who do not want the IPCMC, because once implemented, they can no longer dictate what the police should do," he said.
Thasleem also said it was not necessary now to strengthen the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) as announced by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Paul Low recently, who had said that they will increase the number of investigators in the commission and expland its role.
"EAIC was established two years ago and only now they want to carry out all this expanding and upgrading. Instead of beefing up EAIC, why don't they just implement what was suggested in IPCMC," said Thasleem.
Another issue the group will be protesting against on Monday is the screening of the film. Tanda Putera, set for cinema release on Aug 28.
"This movie should not be screened to the masses as it discredits the Chinese and does not tell the truth," said Thasleem.
He suggested that the MPs view it first before it is released in cinemas.
"It is an agenda by Umno to cause racial tension in the country," claimed Thasleem.
Another issue they will be bringing up is about Interlok, the 1971 Malay language written novel by national laureate Abdullah Hussain which was included in the syllabus for Malay Literature subject as compulsory reading for Form 5 students in schools nationwide.
The book was removed from the syllabus due to its controversial content which touched on the sensitivities of the Indian community two years ago.
Thasleem claimed that although the books were removed at the end of 2011, they are still being kept and not destroyed.
"We are afraid the books will surface in the near future. We want assurance from the government that the books will be destroyed," he said.
Thasleem said the peaceful gathering by the NGOs on Monday will be attended by about 300 members.- June 20, 2013.
