The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) has urged the police to be free from any political interference, in reference to the recent crackdown on the 1MDB probe.
"In the interest of the delivery of policing services, the police must be free from any form of political interference and adheres to the rule of law in the same way that it applies to any other citizen.
"In addition, all police action must respect the principles of legality, necessity, non discrimination, and proportionality as well as humanity," Suhakam acting chairperson Khaw Lake Tee said in a statement yesterday.
The human rights watchdog was commenting on the police probe against the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
"The steps taken by the police appear to be perverting the course of justice so as to hamper, hinder, and obstruct the pending investigations," it said.
Suhakam then called for the force to back off from the MACC, which is part of the special task force set up to probe numerous allegations surrounding the debt-ridden 1MDB.
This included a Wall Street Journal report alleging RM2.6 billion transferred into Prime Minister Najib Razak’s personal accounts originated from 1MDB.
Negative perception brings halt
At the height of the probe, police unexpectedly detained and grilled seven MACC officers and two people linked to the commission for information leaks in the graft buster's 1MDB investigations.
The officers were questioned under Section 124B of the Penal Code for activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy.
Following public outcry that included several BN leaders, police on Saturday said they would postpone the investigations against the graft busters due to negative perception it has caused.
The MACC yesterday welcomed the decision, and said it understood that police had a job to do.
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