Yong: How did Mat Malaya get off the drugs hook?

KOTA KINABALU - Police have a responsibility to promptly solve the case of the alleged shooting of a mechanic at Inanam by Mat Malaya also known as Mohd Jusnaidi - reportedly a brother of ex-Deputy Minister of Internal Security, Datuk Noh Omar - said former Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee.

Yong in a statement, Saturday, said this was necessary to restore public confidence on law enforcement authorities and the justice system.

He said authorities must also reinvestigate the alleged syabu smuggling by Mat Malaya at Kota Kinabalu Airport in 2007 and his subsequent acquittal in 2008 and whether he is suspected to have engaged in drug trafficking ever since 2008.

"The prosecutor's office should also explain how Mat Malaya got away with an acquittal so that our justice system can live up to the maxim that 'justice must not only be done but be seen to be done'.

"In view of his 2007 charge for drug trafficking, it is strange that he can be in possession of a firearm. Or is this a case of illegal firearm? This should be disclosed by the police," he said.

Yong said that according to the website of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Datuk Noh Omar was a deputy Minister of Internal Security from 2004 to 2006.

Nor Omar has also served as Minister of Agro-Based Industry from 2009 to 3013 and Minister of Entrepreneur and Co-operative Development from 2008 to 2009. He is Chairman of Selangor Umno and has been an MP ever since 1995.

Police on Thursday, launched a hunt for Mat Malaya who allegedly shot a man in the leg following an argument at a car air-conditioning workshop along the Jalan Tuaran By-pass in Inanam here on Wednesday.

The 43-year-old Malay from Shah Alam, was described by police as armed and dangerous.