“You just admitted to an act of wilful negligence by confessing that you deliberately ignored the need to clarify the murder remark. You did this despite knowing the gravity of the situation and how a case of such import threatened to undermine investigations currently underway. By virtue of this reasoning, you deliberately harmed the reputation and security of the teacher in question by wilfully ignoring the need to serve her justice. Most of all, you implied conspiracy on the part of PDRM and the Education Department to “cover things up” despite knowing that the teacher was not in any way guilty of murdering anybody”
THE THIRD FORCE
David Marshel needs to be put under a high powered microscope.
The MPSP councilor from DAP declared that M Vasanthapiriya was murdered and questioned if the police and the Education Department were attempting to cover something up. Having spent some three or so years representing parents aggrieved by alleged malpractices of school authorities, he misrepresented himself and members of the Seberang Perai community by casting the Ministry of Education and the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) in bad light.
Now, I’m not taking this lightly.
And neither should any right-thinking Malaysian who feels that Marshel abused the trust placed in him by the community he represents. The fact that he is councillor simply means he has a responsibility to honour that trust at all times by acting professionally, ethically and constructively. Last Thursday, he abused that trust by committing an act of wilful negligence, possibly criminal.
REPORT AGAINST DAVID MARSHEL
CLASSIFICATION OF REPORT: CRIMINAL
The DAP man told newsmen soon after Vasanthapiriya was pronounced dead at the Seberang Jaya Hospital that her case was not suicide, but murder. The gross negligence with which he (reportedly) uttered the remark sent a signal to the community he represents that the schoolteacher accused of causing the teen’s death “killed her with malice aforethought or with recklessness manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life.”
The negative impact such a remark has on the conscience of our people is far reaching. As it is, we’re already plagued with instances of netizens derailing the course of justice with extreme indiscretion and, in some cases, bad faith. Imagine what happens when you have members of local authorities operating to these transgressions with claims like the ones made by Marshel.
Perhaps that explains a posting that appeared on Adam Haris’ Facebook account hours after newsmen in Seberang Jaya were told Vasanthapiriya was murdered:
FACEBOOK POSTING BY ADAM HARIS
REPORT AGAINST ADAM HARIS
The pro-DAP activist turned judge, jury and executioner by accusing the said teacher of being a murderer. He implied conspiracy on the part of Dato’ P. Kamalanathan by accusing the Deputy Minister of Education of protecting the teacher. It is entirely possible that Adam was influenced by what Marshel said. Thanks to the councillor, there probably are Malaysians under the impression that the police are in cahoots with the Ministry of Education to “let the teacher off the hook.”
Given that councilors are appointed by state governments, Lim Guan Eng has a moral obligation to suspend Marshel from duty pending investigations and perhaps even consider sacking him. The Chief Minister must remember, that being a figure of authority, Marshel set a precedent that not only reflects upon the administration of Penang, it threatens to jeopardise harmony by further eroding the already decayed conscience of our netizens when viewed as a collective.
But never mind that.
Early this morning, The Star quoted the MPSP councillor as saying he was “too busy” to set the record straight regarding claims that Vasanthapiriya was murdered.
“I didn’t clarify the article because we were all busy over the issue then. Anyway, we have video recordings of the press conference so I am not worried about the (police) report.”
Now, my message to Marshel (which I have given out to The Star via email) is as follows:
You just admitted to an act of wilful negligence by confessing that you deliberately ignored the need to clarify the murder remark. You did this despite knowing the gravity of the situation and how a case of such import threatened to undermine investigations currently underway. By virtue of this reasoning, you deliberately harmed the reputation and security of the teacher in question by wilfully ignoring the need to serve her justice. Most of all, you implied conspiracy on the part of PDRM and the Education Department to “cover things up” despite knowing that the teacher was not in any way guilty of murdering anybody.
Tell me, is that not a form of criminal intimidation?
I hereby repeat my call for the Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Malaysia, Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun, to look into this matter personally in the best interest of all parties concerned to see to it that the truth prevails.
(edited at 2.09pm, 4/2/18. Word ‘admitting’ in synopsis was changed to confessing)
