Policing the police

Malaysians rate corruption as their biggest concern.

COMMENT

In the past, drug abuse was the most feared enemy of Malaysians. Now, corruption has become Public Enemy No. 1. What is worse is how Malaysians view law enforcement agencies in the country.

Malaysians are up in arms that law enforcement agencies in the country have become heavily corrupted and have a strong dislike for having to deal with these public authorities. They have come forward in droves to channel their displeasure through different paths especially social media.

Malaysians have the idea that corruption is now a very serious matter in this country. But once again, it is the Polis DiRaja Malaysia or PDRM that has topped the list of complaints lodged with Suhakam against law enforcement agencies for violation of human rights.

According to Suhakam’s 2012 annual report, of the 202 complaints made against the Police, Prisons, National Registration and Immigration departments, PDRM tallied a total of 126 complaints.

Inaction or no action by the police accounted for 44 complaints, abuse of power 43 complaints and use of excessive force 39 complaints. This is similar to the previous two years with 113 out of 156 complaints in 2011 and 125 out of 212 in 2010.

Suhakam’s damning verdict

The Suhakam annual report states that the complaints against cops were related to assault of arrested persons during interrogation to compel them to confess. This clearly shows the wanton and brazen act of power and position abuse by the police.

Other complaints included allegations of unlawful arrest which is re-arresting those who have been freed; extended remand by producing the arrested person in the magistrate’s courts in several districts; and complaints of intimidation to pressure those who complained against the police to withdraw their reports; and acts of biasness.

Owing to the gloomy findings of Suhakam against the police, follow-up measures have been recommended by the commission which is to fit every interrogation room with a closed circuit television, a doctor to examine the suspect before and after interrogation and for every complaint against an officer to be investigated either by Bukit Aman or the state police headquarters.

In the latest global corruption survey by Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M), the police and political parties are discovered to be the most corrupt public institutions in the country. This is according to the 2013 survey, which polled 1,000 Malaysians between September last year and March this year.

Respondents were asked to rate public institutions on a scale of 1 (least corrupt) to 5 (most corrupt). The police were rated 4 and political parties were rated a close second at 3.8, making PDRM the worst culprit.

It was discovered in this survey that 39 percent of the respondents believed corruption has become worse compared with 37 percent in 2011. However, 87 percent of those polled agreed ordinary people can make a difference in the fight against corruption.

Generally, the perceived effectiveness of the government’s action in fighting corruption has decreased. Even the perception that the government’s effectiveness in dealing with corruption has suffered, dropping to 31 percent from 40 percent in 2011.

Now a major concern

While policing the police has become a major concern, Barisan Nasional (BN) political leaders are of the view that the Malaysian police force suffers badly from a “negative perception” of being corrupt.

They are of the view that the success and achievements of PDRM are often not highlighted. Instead, publicity is given to the police in a negative way, painting a picture that they are lax on crime and are to be blamed for the rising crime rate.

For some reason, BN leaders in government seemed to be blind and deaf to the growing number of complaints that are lodged against the police with perhaps more grouses and complaints going unreported and therefore, not on record.

It is clearly high time for BN to wake up to the demands of Malaysians wanting to rid the government of corrupt personnel especially those within the law enforcement agencies that have not only given Malaysia a bad name but weakened considerably the structure of government.

It is merely wishful thinking if Malaysians feel that corruption will go away just like a bad dream. There is now a dire need to spring clean the government and law enforcement agencies. Corruption will spell the death of the country and reduce it to a failed state or rogue nation.

Malaysians must not procrastinate anymore but come forward concertedly with the assistance of the non-corrupt to boot the corrupt and restore law and order as there is a negative perception of the law and order in the country now.

Malaysians must begin at this juncture, after the political farce of the 13th GE, to begin moulding the country into order.

Only those whom Malaysians have faith and trust should be allowed to lead this country. For far too long this nation has been victim to the charade of evil and oppressive politicians who are not only selfish but self-seeking.

Malaysia needs to have in place leaders that will serve the people and not politicians who desire to be masters of the people. That is why it is imperative that we rid the government of all who are corrupt.

It is not beyond Malaysians. The feeling around is that change is waiting to take place but is delayed. It is only a matter of time before changes are wrought and brought about for the betterment of the people and country.

Malaysians should not give up on the fight against corruption because the rakyat will eventually prevail. Whatever moves made to remove the corrupt should be continously pursued until fruition where Malaysia becomes a completely corrupt-free society.

Christopher Fernandez is a social critic and commentator.