Police to Jamal: You can run but you cannot hide

KUALA LUMPUR: No matter where Datuk Seri Jamal Yunos is, the police will go after him, says Comm Datuk Mazlan Mansor.

The Selangor top cop said this in response to the fugitive politician’s latest claims that he is in fact still in Malaysia, and not in Indonesia as widely assumed.

“We will catch him as the arrest warrant has been issued,” he said when contacted.

In an audio recording uploaded to YouTube, the Sungai Besar Umno division chief said he was aware Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had sought the assistance of foreign enforcement agencies, including Interpol, to trace his whereabouts.

“It is a waste of time and Interpol doesn’t have to entertain the request as my crimes are not serious, not to the extent of threatening the life of another person.

“I only committed minor offences, including protesting against the Better Beer Festival by breaking beer bottles in front of the Selangor state secretariat building.

“It is up to the Government to ask Interpol (for assistance) or to cooper- ate with other countries. As for me, I am still in the country,” he said.

Earlier, Comm Mazlan said Bukit Aman had liaised with Indonesian authorities to track down Jamal.

“Members of the public with information on Jamal’s whereabouts should come forward as soon as possible.

“We have given him ample time to cooperate with us but he insulted the rule of law by fleeing,” said Comm Mazlan.

He added action would be taken against the police officer and personnel who were on duty when Jamal gave them the slip at Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital some two weeks ago.

“We believe he may have used illegal means to reach Indonesia,” said Comm Mazlan.

Meanwhile, during a working visit to the Immigration Department headquarters in Putrajaya, Muhyiddin said he accepted responsibility for Jamal’s escape.

Jamal was under police remand at the hospital’s premium ward, where he was undergoing treatment for back pain before his escape.

He was found missing by Shah Alam Court assistant registrar Rahasbiah Abd Rahman when she turned up to issue his bail.

Jamal’s lawyer later said there was a misunderstanding over the matter.

Jamal then promised to present himself to the police on May 30, but failed to do so.

Later, he released a video of himself at an oil palm plantation, where he claimed there was an effort by certain parties to direct the police to frame him at any cost.

Jamal is being investigated for at least six offences.

Police have launched a manhunt called Ops Tutup to find him.