It’s the police culture, Mr IGP

 

I feel for Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador. I believe he has tried his best to clean up the police force but so far, there isn’t much progress.

At least, that is the public perception pertaining to corruption and disciplinary problems in the police force.

When Abdul Hamid returned to Bukit Aman in 2018 after having opted for retirement earlier, we were all elated.

Here was a police officer who was known to be “clean, untainted and above board” and we had high expectation of him to deliver.

Top on our list for Abdul Hamid must surely be to overhaul the tainted image of the police force and to put the fear of God into corrupt officers.

Abdul Hamid must also be aware of these expectations when he accepted his come-back post as deputy IGP in 2018 and subsequently became the 12th Malaysian IGP in May 2019.

It was then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad who coaxed Abdul Hamid to return to head Bukit Aman. Abdul Hamid, as he related later, was then enjoying his simple life as a farmer in his home district of Rembau in Negeri Sembilan.

I would say that the new IGP started off very well. We have heard how he regularly drummed the importance of discipline and integrity into his officers and men.

At times, we have heard how he used very strong language to emphasise that he has zero-tolerance for corruption in the police force.

Although known as a mild-mannered and patient leader, Abdul Hamid did not hide his displeasure and anger whenever he hears of evidence of corruption involving his men. It was clear that he would not compromise on that front.

He had also updated the public regularly on the number of police officers who were sacked for disciplinary problems.

Same problems

Twenty months into his job as IGP, I must say that I even feel sorry for Abdul Hamid. I believe he is painfully aware that he has not achieved the target he set out to attain.

He is facing the same problems and issues like some of his predecessors who had also attempted to clean up the police force when they were in command.

My verdict on why this is so and I would state it directly – It’s the police culture, Mr IGP.

Corruption is deeply embedded. It is a scourge that just refuses to go away.

In my book, and this is something I’ve previously stated, the four most corrupt departments are the police, followed by Immigration, Road Transport and Customs.

Only this week, the MACC reported that it has crippled an immigration syndicate with the arrest of 46 people, including 27 Immigration Department officers. Do we need to wonder why we have so many illegal immigrants loitering in our midst?

Also this week, Abdul Hamid announced that the police division dealing with vice, gambling, and secret societies, known as D7, and two other departments are undergoing a major revamp after some of the officers were believed to have been working hand in glove with criminal syndicates.

According to the IGP, last month, a total of 34 senior police officers nationwide were transferred as they had integrity issues after they were believed to have been in cahoots with certain syndicates.

Sadly, we have heard of such transfers of police officers all too often. It is like listening to an old, broken record which keeps spinning the same tune. Apparently, things have not improved.

When the OCPD is on the take, what do you expect his junior officers to do? Either follow the boss or “goyang kaki” for the duration of your time in the district.

I guess that is the temptation many will fall into if the top gun in the district is up to no good.

Two long-term solutions

Abdul Hamid and his management board at Bukit Aman will continue to face a severe test in heading a force of some 130,000 men and women.

I can think of two long-term solutions which may minimise corruption and disciplinary problems in the police force.

One is to increase the salary of police officers, particularly those holding the rank of inspector and below.

A police inspector’s salary of RM2,500-3,000 is way too low and he would have difficulty in keeping up with the rising cost of living.

A constable receives only about RM2,000 with allowances thrown in. The poor guy who has to support a family of four will be thinking of ways to cope and will likely fall into the entrapment if it comes his way.

Two, put a stop to the nepotistic culture which is known to be at play within the police force.

For example, an officer on the good books of a state chief police officer will likely be recommended for promotion, ahead of his more deserving colleagues. Demoralisation has long plagued the police force.

I do not think the Independent Police Complaints of Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) Bill 2019 or the watered-down Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) Bill 2020 will be of much help to give the police image a lift.

Despite the gloomy outlook, I would still place my trust in Abdul Hamid to continue with his good work as the IGP.

I think this man’s record is impeccable.

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FRANCIS PAUL SIAH heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS) and can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com. - Mkini

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.