Police must strive to regain public confidence
IN THE next few weeks, there will be another round of promotions in the police force involving very senior members. There will be vacancies for at least three Commissioner-level posts in Bukit Aman.
Several state chief police officers holding the rank of deputy commissioner will be pushed up. These DCP positions would also have to be filled.
With Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan’s two-year extension, and the appointment of Datuk Ismail Omar as deputy IGP, the new team should share the same views on how to take the force forward.
They may feel more comfortable now that the proposed Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission will be replaced by the Special Complaints Commission, which will look after all enforcement agencies.
The force has been unhappy that they should be singled out for misconduct and abuse of power since other enforcement agencies also have similar problems.
But this does not mean that they can now relax; and it is important that its officers and men should present a better image to the public without any outside pressure.
They can do this by action to prove that they are serious in changing tactics in dealing with members of the public, either suspects or those seeking police assistance, such as making reports.
One complaint concerns the abuse of authority displayed by some police personnel.
They must follow all procedures in dealing with suspects remanded at police lockups for being involved in criminal activities.
They should observe the human rights of such suspects and should not use excessive force unless faced with strong resistance during arrest.
So far, the IGP has been making some progress in addressing recommendations contained in the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysian Police on how they could improve their tarnished image.
Those found breaking the rules were investigated and if there should be sufficient evidence they were charged in court.
There have been more policemen being charged for corruption of late.
However, Musa has been given an almost impossible task as he is expected to stop irregular practices, which had been the culture for the past 30 years or more.
But changes must start at Bukit Aman where it is imperative that all those holding senior positions must be role models for the lower ranks to follow.
If top officers should be involved in corruption, then it is not surprising that their subordinates should do the same.
At the state level, all Chief Police Officers and OCPDs must be men and women of integrity and dedication, and be professional in dealing with the public. Where the public are concerned, the most annoying feature must be being given the runaround when making a police report.
Many police stations are still seen as not very people-friendly and this must change since the public must be convinced that their feedback are valuable and that they are always made to feel welcome.
