DON'T MAKE PDRM AS "SCAPE-GOAT" - WAN JUNAIDI

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Dr Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar lambasted some parties who arbitrarily blamed the police making them a "scape-goat" when a problem occurs.

"The police in any circumstances will give priority to the safety and security of the people, discharging their duties accordingly to the police's Standard Operation Procedures (SOP)."

Junaidi, who is also Member of Parliament for Santubong said this when contacted by Sarawakiana via the telephone earlier this morning.

He was asked to comment regarding Sarawak's Social Development Minister Tan Sri William Mawan statement blaming the police on the failure of controlling the crowd leading to rioting at the Sarawak-Perak Malaysia Cup match in Kuching on Saturday.

Mawan was earlier reported by TMI saying that the police were not prepared to deal with a highly-charged match at the state stadium for the woeful crowd control that led to rioting at the Sarawak-Perak Malaysia Cup match in Kuching on Saturday.

"They (the leaders) should take consideration that the police had done their best making preparation to secure the match however, untoward incidents such as the rioting during that match didi happened," Junaidi pointed out.

"You don't expect us (the police) to come down to the match in full force like there was a war going on there?," he added.

"Instead of blaming the police, the leaders who had criticised the law enforcement should give them moral support rather than making us the "scape-goat" in this matter," said Junaidi.

In the incident which saw Sarawak drew 1-1 with Perak, more than 2,000 fans were reported to had invaded the pitch after the final whistle was blown with some damaging the stadium facilities, ripping the plastic seats, setting off flares and hurled broken bottles, rocks and “air bombs” at police.

Seven police cars were damaged in the rioting outside the stadium, including one which was set ablaze with seven policemen slightly injured and so far, police had made five arrest regarding to this incident. -Sarawakiana