Gerakan disagrees with the use of handcuff on teenage girl

Gerakan disagrees with the use of handcuff on teenage girl

Dr. Cheah Soon Hai: It is unnecessary and may bring negative impact

 
 

Press statement by

Gerakan Head of Central Bureau on Environment, Safety and Quality of Life

Dr. Cheah Soon Hai

 
 

7 September 2012

 
 

Gerakan Head of Central Bureau on Environment, Safety and Quality of Life Dr. Cheah Soon Hai rebuked the use of handcuff on the 19-year-old girl who turned herself in to the police after she was accused of stepping on Prime Minister Datuk Sri Najib's photograph on Merdeka eve.

 
 

Dr. Cheah who is also Kedah Gerakan State Chairman and Derga state assemblyman said that it was hugely unnecessary for the police to do the handcuffing even after the girl voluntarily turned herself in without giving any resistance to the police.

 
 

"It was an unnecessary show of force by the police to handcuff the teenage girl who voluntarily turned herself in, my concern is that the intimidation and humiliation from the action will probably bring negative psychological impact to the teenager in the future," said Dr. Cheah.

 
 

Although the action was in accordance to the laws and proper procedures, Dr. Cheah still felt that the blunt and excessive demonstration of power on a grim manner by the police in this case is undermining the previous efforts by the police to get closer to the people and be approachable, and it will also discourage future suspects from surrendering themselves to the police.

 
 

"I hope the police will take in people views and make a better change to become more cordial and considerate to the people in the future," added Dr. Cheah Soon Hai.