Khairy raps cops for inaction against RPK

Raja Petra (left) gave his talk as scheduled, in London, July 4, 2010. — Picture by Danny Lim

KUALA LUMPUR, July 5 — Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin slammed the police for failing to apprehend fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, despite being fully aware of his whereabouts.

Raja Petra was openly in London yesterday, where he gave a speech at a Pakatan Rakyat (PR) event.

Khairy said that he could not understand why the authorities could not apprehend Raja Petra, as a press statement issued two days prior to the Friends of Pakatan Rakyat (FoPR) event yesterday had listed the Malaysia Today blogger among its keynote speakers.

“Where is the action from the police? Datuk Seri Najib Razak has said the police will be responsible for apprehending Raja Petra. The Inspector-General of Police has said he will get information on Raja Petra’s location, but RPK is going around in public.

“Yesterday, RPK was not in hiding; he had attended a Friends of Pakatan Rakyat event in London,” said Khairy.

The Rembau MP told reporters that he was shocked that the police had not tried to engage with their counterparts in the United Kingdom to arrest Raja Petra and return him to Malaysia.

“Even if they cannot arrest him there, the relationship (between the Malaysian police) and Scotland Yard is there, through the extradition agreement. The British police can arrest RPK and bring him back to Malaysia.

“Are they (the police) unaware, or choose not to know RPK’s movements and location? You have to ask the right questions.

“I want to help the police here,” added Khairy.

Raja Petra was last seen at the Friends of Pakatan Rakyat (FoPR) event yesterday in London, where he spoke in front of over 200 people.