The Selangor police chief maintained today that Aminulrasyid Amzah was a “suspected criminal” when policemen gave chase to the car the 14-year-old was driving before he was shot to death two weeks ago.
Deputy Commissioner Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar also declined to apologise for allegedly tainting the boy’s reputation as demanded by Aminulrasyid’s family yesterday.
Khalid said the very reason why the cops had given chase to the schoolboy on the day of his death was because he was a “suspected criminal”.
“Is it wrong to say that he is a suspected criminal?” he told The Malaysian Insider this morning.
Khalid denied that the police had called Aminulrasyid a “robber” and said the term used was “suspected criminal”.
“We did not say he was a robber. My officers said they acted in such a way because the boys were suspected robbers. That was why they chased them that way. Actually, they did not say suspected robbers... it was suspected criminals,” he clarified.
Khalid also insisted that the police had not acted out of the ordinary by slapping the term “suspected criminals” on the 14-year-old and his friend, Azamuddin Omar, 15, who had also been present during the time of the incident.
The report also said that at a press conference yesterday, Aminulrasyid’s family had urged either the Inspector-General of Police, the Home Ministry or Khalid to issue a formal apology for accusing the youth of being a robber. They claimed that the accusation had tainted Aminulrasyid’s reputation as well as that of his family’s.
My heart goes out to Aminulrasyid's family and loved ones. He has departed from this world but the label of "suspected criminal" remains on this young man's reputation which will have long and far-reaching consequences to his loved ones. You can read more about labeling HERE.
The Free Dictionary defines 'criminal' this way:
criminal
1) n. a popular term for anyone who has committed a crime, whether convicted of the offense or not. More properly it should apply only to those actually convicted of a crime. Repeat offenders are sometimes called habitual criminals.
2) adj. certain acts or people involved in or relating to a crime. Examples of uses include "criminal taking," "criminal conspiracy," a "criminal gang."
Yes, he was wrong to drive the car at his age and at that time of the night. I am sure his tomfoolery was not from any criminal intent. Subsequent actions probably stemmed from feelings of panic.
With due respect to the authorities concerned, I wish to request that the label be dropped and replaced with a descriptor that does not have such negative implications. I write as a mother of two boys and my heart goes out especially to the mother of Aminulrasyid who has to cope with her pain of her loss as a widowed mother.
Please have mercy on the boy and let his loved ones cherish the memory of this life minus the label of 'suspected criminal' which would make the pain of the loss even a greater one to bear.
He has already departed from this earth. Let him live in the memory of those who love him sans this label. May his soul rest in peace. Thank you.
houdini Musa has been watching too many "Dirty Harry" movies.