PERCEPTIONS OR REALITY

by drrafick

1. Off late, since the beginning of the fasting month, I see the traffic police are actively doing their jobs. Roadblocks can be seen at many strategic places and patrol cars presence has also increased. Last week alone, I had to slow down on 4 different roads where the traffic police was doing their ops and today for the 3^rd time I saw traffic policeman flagging down a motorist.
   

2. I hate to make any conclusion without any clear evidence but what is clear to me is that the traffic police activities follow a certain trend. This has been going on for years. It can be observed that they are mostly active during the fasting month. I find it strange because one would expect their activity either to be the same or slowed down in the fasting in view of the lowered blood sugar level.
   

3. The common conclusion among the public is they see traffic cop at work especially during Ramadan, is that they are looking for side income or “cari makan”. Sad as it is but that is the impression that people get especially when they interpret the body language of the cops at road blocks. It can also be seen that the traffic police activity tend to be seasonal.
   

4. While we appreciate the role of the traffic cops, I think they need to manage the public perception. In the US and Europe, the police are trained to stand and engaged traffic offender without any unusual posturing and body language. The RMP should adapt this. In Malaysia, I believe it would be best that “preventive surveillance of traffic activity” is done on a regular basis irrespective of seasons. That way no one can note the significant change of traffic police activities during Ramadhan.