Anwar says he personally sympathises with Shuhaily, but stresses law and due process apply to everyone

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today defended Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail amid the controversy surrounding the police investigation into Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain over alleged assault.

Addressing questions in Parliament, Anwar expressed personal sympathy for the Malaysian Checkpoints and Borders Agency chief but said the rule of law must take its course without executive interference.

He said it was wrong to blame Saifuddin for the controversy amid calls for the minister to intervene, emphasising that authorities were obligated to investigate complaints against any officer regardless of their track record.

“Even a former Inspector-General of Police back in ‘98 was imprisoned for assaulting someone. Did he have contributions? Yes, he had contributions,” Anwar said, adding that professionalism and adherence to the law remained paramount.

The prime minister explained that the investigation into Shuhaily was initiated following a formal police report and reiterated that the government would not interfere in investigative or prosecutorial procedures.

“If there are allegations or accusations that someone was mistreated, it follows a process. Do not ask me or the home minister to interfere to that extent. Only now, if it is found by the prosecutors and the Attorney General that there is a case, charges will be brought,” he said.

Shuhaily, a former Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director, was charged at the Sepang Sessions Court in October 2026 with two counts of voluntarily causing hurt to two police officers under Section 323 of the Penal Code.

The charges stemmed from an alleged physical altercation involving Special Branch personnel stationed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 on September 28, an incident that drew public attention after video footage circulated online.

The case has also attracted expressions of public support for Shuhaily on social media, with some commenters alleging that he was being victimised by rival factions within the police force.

Anwar said established civil service procedures applied when a public servant was formally charged, which could include reassignment or suspension pending legal proceedings, with such matters overseen by the Home Ministry.

Rejecting attempts to frame the investigation as a political controversy, Anwar urged the public and lawmakers not to confuse personal sympathy with legal immunity.

“If you ask me, I know him, I sympathise, and I know his track record,” he said.

“But I cannot say that just because a person is good, they can assault an officer. I cannot say that someone can bypass due legal process. Anger is one thing, but this is what I want to emphasise because there are attempts to confuse the matter.”

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吉隆坡，11月3日——在警方对拿督斯里莫哈末舒海利莫哈末扎因涉嫌袭击事件进行调查的争议中，总理拿督斯里安瓦尔易卜拉欣今天为内政部长拿督斯里赛夫丁纳苏蒂安伊斯梅尔辩护。

安华在国会回答问题时，对马来西亚边境检查站和边境机构负责人表示个人同情，但他表示，法治必须在不受行政干预的情况下进行。

他表示，在各方呼吁部长介入之际，将争议归咎于赛夫丁是错误的，并强调当局有义务调查针对任何官员的投诉，无论其过往记录如何。

安华说：“就连1998年的一位前警察总监也曾因殴打他人而被判入狱。他有罪吗？是的，他有罪。”他还补充说，专业精神和遵守法律仍然至关重要。

总理解释说，对舒海利的调查是根据警方的正式报告启动的，并重申政府不会干预调查或起诉程序。

“如果有人被指控或控告受到虐待，那将按程序进行。不要要求我和内政部长进行如此程度的干预。只有当检察官和总检察长认定确有此案时，才会提起诉讼。”他说道。

前武吉阿曼刑事调查部主任舒海利于 2026 年 10 月在雪邦地方法庭被控两项罪名，即根据刑法第 323 条故意伤害两名警官。

这些指控源于9月28日吉隆坡国际机场（KLIA）1号航站楼特勤人员之间发生的一起涉嫌肢体冲突，该事件在视频片段在网上流传后引起了公众的关注。

该案件也在社交媒体上引发了公众对舒海利的声援，一些评论者声称他受到了警队内部敌对派系的迫害。

安华表示，当一名公务员被正式指控时，将适用既定的公务员程序，包括在法律程序进行期间进行重新分配或停职，此类事项由内政部监督。

安华拒绝将调查定性为政治争议，并敦促公众和立法者不要将个人同情与法律豁免权混为一谈。

“如果你问我，我认识他，我同情他，我也了解他的过往记录，”他说。

“但我不能说一个人品行好就可以袭击警官。我也不能说任何人可以绕过正当的法律程序。愤怒是一回事，但这正是我要强调的，因为有人试图混淆视听。”

萨拉瓦南涉嫌贪污110万令吉的案件将于2027年3月开庭审理。

一名男子被控在哥打丁宜谋杀一名68岁的Felda定居者。

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