The day I felt truly Malaysian

On that fateful Saturday, tens of thousands of Malaysians ignored government warnings and descended onto the streets of the capital to raise a simple point; that as citizens we deserve fairer and more transparent elections.

They told us it was an illegal assembly, Bersih, but we understood we had the constitutional right to assemble peacefully, what more to demand for a better democracy.

But when my government began outlawing ridiculous things like a certain colour or word, as if they were making up laws as they go, I knew I could no longer remain silent. I had to march.

Roadblocks did not stop us, harassments from the authorities did not wither our spirits and threats of arrests did little to sow fear among us. Official government statistics put us at 6,000-10,000. Foreign media estimates say about 100,000 took part in the rally. Whose figures should one trust then? Just ask anyone who was there and they’ll tell you it was anything but 10,000. That, I am sure.

I joined the rest of the people at KL Sentral. I had earlier planned to join a friend at Jalan Petaling where another group of people had already gathered. But prior to my arrival at KL Sentral, I received a text message from him saying, “Don’t come. The police have started!”

I saw firsthand what our police force was capable of. I was there when they fired tear gas canisters into the crowd in a confined part of the KL Sentral building. I tasted, for the first time, the unpleasant effects of tear gas — ironically paid for by our tax money. I’d never shed a tear for my country until I got tear-gassed that day.

I was also there when a barricade of FRUs aimed their fully-loaded tear gas launchers at our faces and threatened us, when we tried to take an alternative route. I should also mention that the crowd did nothing to provoke let alone, were being violent. The Malaysians, who turned up for the rally, were not exclusive to one race or followers of a religion, we were a diverse bunch, no doubt but we were there as Malaysians above all else. We were one people.

Dare I say the demand for fairer elections was more effective in uniting Malaysians than Prime Minister Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia slogan? You bet. If you were there for Bersih, you would concur too.

I then managed to make my way out of the building. By then, the tear gas was still present in the air albeit less concentrated. The fact that tear gas was fired in an enclosed area meant that the gas remained for some time. I had lost the earlier group whom we were with when I saw a group of fellow marchers heading towards me. I asked a man in the crowd why they were heading in the opposite direction. He told me the police had sealed the roads leading to Stadium Merdeka and they had to turn around. So I joined them and we marched along Jalan Tun Sambanthan heading towards Brickfields.

A man behind me remarked to this friend, “Who said we Malaysians can’t march peacefully? Look!” I turned around and said, “I agree with you, my brother!” We exchanged smiles.

I also saw a motorcyclist, who was riding alongside us, got down from his motorcycle, turned his engine off and walked with us. Many more did the same and we sounded our appreciation.

We chanted slogans like “Hidup Rakyat (Long live the people!)” and “Bangkit Rakyat (Rise up, people!)” as we moved. Passing motorists honked and gave us thumbs up in support. Pedestrians cheered at us while we passed them. Even the trains stopped to sound their horns to encourage us. I could even see passengers inside waving at us. We reciprocated by applauding them all. At this point, I am not ashamed to admit I almost teared.

I was fortunate enough not to experience the hell others had to go through. Despite the persistent denials by the authorities, there are hundreds of videos and pictures now circulating around the Internet to prove otherwise. For every video or picture, there are more inspiring stories of how Malaysians put aside their differences to help one another. It is no accident that #bersihstories was among the top local trends on Twitter.

When my grandchildren ask where I was when the rakyat stood up against oppression, I will proudly tell them their grandfather was there marching with the rest. July 9, 2011 was the day I truly felt Malaysian.

Note: Bersih opponents, please understand we marched not only for ourselves but also for you. A clean, fair and neutral EC would benefit everyone across any political divide.

And no, in my humble opinion, Bersih wasn’t hijacked by the Opposition. BN was invited to put aside politics and join the call for electoral reforms but they turned down the offer. So don’t blame the Opposition for backing the movement, such are politicians for they are opportunists. BN had their chance to steal the Opposition’s thunder if they had agreed to work with Bersih but they blew it.

It also must be said that Opposition leaders and supporters are also citizens of this country and they have as much right as you have to demand for a better democracy. If you cannot accept the previous sentence, then you have failed to understand what ‘democracy’ truly is.




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Royal M'sian Police - They watch over us. But who watches over them?

The recent power struggle in Perak has opened a can of worms to show yet another ugly of side of a body that has the royal mandate to serve and protect - the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM). The role of the PDRM in the coup d'état by the Barisan Nasional to wrest control of the state government unconstitutionally is highly questionable, especially to those who believe in the true spirit of democracy.

I, for one, disapprove what the PDRM had done in the handling of the Perak Constitutional crisis - from a civil stance. It is elementary knowledge that an institution like the police should always remain above politics and place the best interest of the public first, above everything else. Sure, there are some who concede that the PDRM had little or no choice but to do what had to be done in Perak in the midst of political and civil chaos but I beg to differ. I feel the PDRM could have done better.

And of course, I am not alone with such a notion that the PDRM had somewhat crossed the line. The Bar Council on May 7 condemned the police's 'unwarranted' interference in the course of events relating to the Perak crisis - that includes putting down protests and physically removing V. Sivakumar from the Speaker’s chair in the Perak state assembly [source].

Consider the following:

1. On March 3, the police sealed the Perak State Assembly building - preventing all 28 Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state elected representatives from entering to hold a sitting. However, on May 7, the police warned the public not to participate in street protests and would not hesitate to arrest anyone found 'preventing' state representatives from entering the Assembly building.
   
2. Police officers in plain clothes physically removed V. Sivakumar from the Assembly even though he was the rightfully appointed Assembly Speaker and had not stepped down from that position.
   
3. The police arrested BERSIH activist Wong Chin Huat under the Sedition Act on May 6 in less than 24 hours after his press conference to propose the 1BlackMalaysia campaign - a spin-off to Najib's 1Malaysia slogan, urging Malaysians to wear black on May 7 to protest against the Perak coup.
4. As many as 14 people were detained for participating in a peaceful candlelight vigil outside the Brickfields police station where Wong Chin Huat was held.
   
5. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan imposed a ban on the colour black and warned the public not to turn up at the State Assembly building in that colour or risk being arrested.
   
6. At least 60 people were arrested on May 7 for wearing black and for 'gathering illegally' in Ipoh.

Speaker V. Sivakumar being forcibly removed from his seat.

Perhaps, the issue here is not what the PDRM 'had done' but rather what they had 'failed to do' which I believe, is to be above politics. Judging from what the PDRM had done - from the arrest of an activist to the ban on black attires - little can be said about whether the PDRM is truly above politics. It seems to me that the very institution tasked to serve and protect the public is wrongfully being used to serve a political agenda. Is the PDRM politically neutral? It should be.

The belief that the police favours a particular political entity over the other is rather apparent and it takes no effort to actually identify the institution's political inclination. One fine example is the PDRM's objection to the setting up of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), saying there is no need for one [source].

The proposed IPCMC would be an independent, external oversight body whose principal function is to receive and investigate complaints about the PDRM and its personnel. Having a watchdog would certainly help to make the police more accountable and transparent. [More info on the IPCMC]

And in a published document [pdf] by the president of the gazetted Senior Police Officers Association, ACP Jamaludin bin Hj Khalid, the association which claims to represent 95,000 members 'threatened that it would support the Opposition' if the IPCMC is given the green light. The following are a few of the 'threats' as listed in the document by the association which I find rather preposterous:

1. The police would allow the crime rate to rise further.
2. A 5-day working week/8 hours a day rule would be demanded for all police personnel.
3. The police force would vote for the Opposition.
4. The mass resignations of police officers.

The failure of former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to implement the IPCMC is one of many unfulfilled promises made during his premiership. And apparently, the lack of decisive implementation of such policies can only come back to haunt us, as the Perak crisis have already shown. Hence, I believe the best course of action would be setting up the IPCMC nevertheless. This is because the IPCMC is essential for the check-and-balance we so desperately need when the PDRM is responsible for so many unwarranted actions of late.

If the police has the audacity to act like thugs - throwing about such childish threats of 'potential severe repercussions' and its ignorant refusal to acknowledge the fundamental need for public accountability, then it is high time that the government look into how things are actually run in the force - starting with the leadership.
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City Council serves notice to a tree

IPOH, March 14 2009— The Ipoh City Council has now taken its turn to fuss over Perak’s democracy plaque, claiming that the structure was an obstruction in a public area. [The Malaysian Insider]

Idiocy knows no boundaries. That was the case for the Ipoh City Council when they issued a notice to a 'tree' for illegally erecting a plaque which the council claimed was causing public obstruction. This bizarre incident marks history's first as tree was issued a municipal notice. In Malaysia, notices from city councils are usually addressed to humans.

The tree was dubbed the "Democracy Tree" for its role in history when 28 Perak state assemblymen held the country's first emergency state assembly under a tree after being denied entry into the State Secretariat by the police on March 3. A plaque was then constructed under the tree to commemorate the historic event but was recently damaged by vandals.

Despite being locked out of the State Assembly building, the emergency sitting managed to pass three votes – expressing their confidence in Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin as mentri besar; calling on Nizar to seek a dissolution of the state assembly; and endorsing Sivakumar’s suspension of Zambry and the de facto BN executive council.

All 28 assemblymen, including Pakatan Rakyat's ousted menteri besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin and Speaker V Sivakumar, are currently being probed by the police for their 'illegal assembly' under the tree. For all that it's worth, an assembly may be held under a tree because there is no no law against it as long as it was the Speaker's decision to convene an emergency sitting. How could the police view a gathering of state assemblymen as an 'illegal assembly' was baffling. In fact, barring state representatives from their duties by sealing the entire state secretariat would poise the greater crime in this case, would it not?

However, the biggest joke was with the Ipoh City Council who pinned a notice on the “Democracy Tree” , informing the 'owner' of the plaque to remove the monument within 24 hours before it gets destroyed. The 'owner', of course, was the 'tree'.

According the to council, the structure posed an obstruction to the public and hence contravened Section 46(1)(a) of the Road, Drainage and Building Ordinance 1974. The plaque was finally removed on March 16.

Next: Stray dogs to get eviction notices.

Before and after: The vandalised plaque under the foliage of the green offender. (images from http://blog.limkitsiang.com)

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Death of detainee - Syed Hamid says it all again

-A commentary-

Amidst the lunar new year celebrations, the week has been marred with controversies involving two deputy ministers, a Home Minister, the police and a death of a suspected car thief. The public, including friends and family of Kugan Ananthan were outraged to learn about the death of the 22 year-old while he was in police custody. Two deputy ministers of the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk K. Devamany and Senator T. Murugiah were also alleged to have 'raided' the morgue with the crowd where Kugan's body laid.

Our beloved Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar (image above) on January 25 issued a stern warning to the two deputy ministers, saying both of them are likely to face action for 'breaking the law' by accompanying the crowd.

“No minister or member of the administration is above the law and if you have committed an offence then you have to face the consequences,” Syed Hamid said. [25/1/09]

Being there with a crowd who so happened tried to enter the mortuary to see the body of their loved one is a crime?

The initial autopsy revealed that Kugan had died of fluids in his lungs but his family sought for a second autopsy, insisting that he had died of injuries. Lo and behold, the second one found external injuries caused by blunt brute force trauma on Kugan's body and it was suggested that he could have died of cardiac arrest following the injuries. That was pretty amazing - It took two autopsies for the authorities to actually 'discover' external injuries.

The police have promised a full investigation into the matter with all 11 police officers from the Subang USJ Taipan police station being suspended from duty.

No one is above the law but the Home Minister?

The Home Minister once again points his holier-than-thou finger at the two deputy ministers for their alleged 'accomplice' in the mortuary invasion. Indeed, 'no minister or member of the administration is above the law' , to quote the ever wise minister but how many times we Malaysians have seen the police and most importantly the Home Ministry act as if they are 50,000-feet above the law?

Malaysians are all too familiar with how the authorities handled peaceful marches like the BERSIH rally in 2007 and the arrests of participants of candlelight vigils and anti-war gatherings with riot police and water cannons. And not to mention the unholy trinity of ISA arrests of a blogger, an Opposition MP and a reporter of whom Syed Hamid gave the excuse of 'protecting her from death threats'.

If such indiscretion and the blatant abuse of preventive laws by the Home Ministry and the police are not acts far above the law, then what is? Syed Hamid must realize that for every finger he points at others, three are pointing back. It is true that the Home Minister is the man who calls the shots on who should be arrested and which assembly should be halted. But then again, every educated Malaysian knows adjectives like 'seditious', 'dangerous' or 'unruly' for an assembly or a person are subjected to the Home Minister's interpretation of events. The truth is, he is a lousy interpreter.

The police- abuse of power or sheer incompetence?

We should be warned not to turn Kugan's death into a racial issue, pitting the Malays against the Indians. I believe many Malays are just as disgusted and angered with the police force which just so happen to be a Malay-majority institution. Remember, we are all Malaysians and thus, this is a Malaysian issue at heart. The Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar, on the other hand, pleaded with the public not exploit Kugan's funeral as a political protest. Yes, it should be a protest against the victim of its own declining credibility - the Royal Malaysian Police!

The force have been lambasted for their lackadaisical approach when dealing with a death of a detainee. The family of Kugan also revealed of ignorance to basic protocols by the police when they were not even informed of Kugan's arrest prior to his sudden death on January 14.

“The police never informed us that he was arrested and we only heard about it from an anonymous caller...All they (the police) said was that he had died and his body was at the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC)... Look what they have put us through," Kugan’s uncle V.Raviroy told reporters. [The Malaysian Insider, 26/1/09]

I could only imagine what Kugan's family had gone through when Raviroy said that while Kugan had died at 11am on January 20, his family members were only informed of his death at 9pm by several plain-clothed detectives who came to their home. Police incompetency again? It's nothing new.

If Kugan's death was indeed natural and was not caused by police brutality, the authorities still have answer for the other 80 deaths in police custody from 2000 to 2004, a sum according to The Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysian Police.

Out of the 80 cases, only 39 cases had been referred to the Magistrate for inquiry. And of the 39 cases, only in 6 cases did the Magistrate conduct inquest. The Royal Commission also found that in some 22 cases which had been referred to the Magistrate, decisions had been made to not hold inquests. This is a strict violation of The Criminal Procedure Code which states that when a person dies while in the custody of the police, the officer who had custody of that person shall immediately give intimation of such death to the nearest Magistrate and that the Magistrate shall hold an inquiry into the cause of the death.

It is also understood that no closed-circuit-television-cameras (CCTV) were placed in the lockup where Kugan was detained despite a governmental directive years ago for such devices to be installed to prevent police abuse.

Nevertheless, the Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail have asked the police to classify Kugan's death as 'murder' after personally studying investigation papers and photographs of the deceased.

Kugan's death signifies an unfortunate fact that some things do not change in Malaysia. How many times have we seen real measures are only taken when there is death? It took several lives to be lost the last time to prompt the government to review the safety of hillside projects and take preventive measures to prevent another landslide. Just how many more lives must be lost before any serious affirmative actions are taken to address the dire incompetency of our police force?
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Cycling activists more terrifying than Mat Rempits?

BUKIT MERTAJAM: A non-governmental organisation (NGO) lodged a police report alleging the torching of eight bicycles used in an expedition from Alor Star to Parliament House in KualaLumpur early yesterday while the participants were asleep. [The Star, 8/12/08]

The Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT), an NGO against civil exploitation and oppression launched a nationwide cycling expedition on December 3 to raise public awareness on current issues plaguing the country. The expedition themed, "People Riding for Change" has 65 participants on their list and is been endorsed by Pakatan Rakyat states and several elected representatives in the government.

The two-wheeled entourage plans to track from state to state before proceeding to the Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur to hand over a people's claim to the government. For what seemed like a noble cause by JERIT to spread public awareness on current national issues, the campaign had inherently attracted unwanted attention to deter if not sabotage the nationwide tour.

On December 7, expedition coordinator R. Rani Mohanarani claimed that their bicycles were set on fire at about 3am while the participants were asleep at the Yayasan Aman complex, Kubang Semang. Mohanarani told reporters that a crew member had heard explosion-like sounds in the wee hours of morning but none of them managed to see the culprits who torched the bicylces.

Similar attempts to deter another JERIT expedition group where also reported in Johor. This time it was not errant vandalisers but the authorities themselves; who were on high gear to disrupt the campaign. JERIT reported on their website that members of the expedition were constantly harassed by the police, a couple of police cars and a police van were seen following them as they move from one town to another. Many unidentified cars were also reported stalking the expedition group even while the participants were on lunch breaks. According to JERIT reports, roadblocks were also erected along expedition routes.

The authorities in Skudai, Johor have reacted quite ridiculously when they declared a 'state of emergency' on December 6, probably due to the sudden influx of cyclists on the highways of Johor. It was reported that the Skudai police had mobilized their entire unit - from Light Strike Force, FRU to traffic police officers, to prevent 40 youths from taking part in the expedition. They have also gone as far as placing a ban on cycling in Skudai and have issued a public warning that the police would not hesitate to arrest anyone found cycling in the streets. Nonetheless, several members of JERIT were reported to have been arrested on the grounds of 'illegal assembly'.

Had the police likened JERIT members to Mat Rempits so much as to warrant such reactions? The police might just find themselves in a bleaker situation for more public critcism with their misplaced priorities in assuring public order and safety.

However, this begs the question: Could the police display the same prowess and demeanour when it comes to keeping our streets safe from Mat Rempits?



Glossary: A Mat Rempit is a Malaysian term for 'an individual who participates in illegal street racing, usually involving motorcycles and even to the extreme of performing crazy and dangerous stunts for fun.
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Have you heard of a pro-ISA rally?

On November 23, the Edisi 7 prime time news on the public channel, NTV7 reported that a pro-ISA gathering was held in Kuala Lumpur, organised by a coalition of NGOs known as Pewaris. It was reported that 500 people took part in the rally in support of the ISA (Internal Security Act) to remain despite the countless calls for its abolishment by various quarters of society. The group's spokesperson at the gathering told NTV7 reporters that the group believes the ISA should be retained but amendments to the legislature are needed to keep up with the times.

The 500-strong group marched for 2km along Jalan Tun Razak in the heart of the capital city, cheering their way to the Jalan Tun Razak Police Station to lodge a police report seeking action against those who stir up racial issues and question Malay rights.

The march was briefly disrupted when an unidentified woman, a pedestrian, started making her anti-ISA sentiments known to the group. She was also seen taking pictures with her cellphone. Her actions provoked several participants of the march who went after her. Fortunately, police officers at the scene managed to intervene and safely escorted the lady to her car. Angry remarks were heard hurling at the lady when she made her way to safety. One of the participants of the pro-ISA rally was even caught on tape kicking her car. No police arrests have been made.

On the same day, Malaysiakini reported the police had disrupted an anti-ISA event which was held at a field in Ampang Jaya. The gathering of about 100 people were greeted by 40 over anti-riot personnels who moved in to dispersed the crowd. It was understood that 7 arrests were made by the police.

It was unclear whether a police permit was granted to the organisers of the pro-ISA rally but it was apparent that the anti-ISA event had been marked as 'illegal' the moment it began. Now, which behaviour was more of a threat to society: A mob who went after a lady in the streets or a group of people gathered at a municipal field?
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Police in denial despite video evidence against them

Selangor Police Chief, Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar denied that the police made arrests a candlelight vigil held recently while the participants were singing the national anthem. [Malaysiakini, 10/11/08]

The infamous arrests of 24 citizens, including PJ Utara MP Tony Pua and Selangor executive councillor Ronnie Liu by the police received little praises from the public. The Royal Malaysian Police got down and dirty with the attendees of a candlelight vigil held in conjunction of the first anniversary of the BERSIH (Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections) movement, which started in November last year.

The authorities had reportedly deployed anti-riot personnels and a water canon truck to disperse the crowd; claiming the gathering was 'illegal' as it did not have a permit. True enough, the BERSIH gathering was 'illegal' by law. But the police has yet to explain their use of excessive force on a peaceful candlelight vigil and an MP who came in support of the gathering.

The night also saw a videographer from the news website, Malaysiakini being arrested by the police and his video camera confiscated. It was clear that the police did not want any press coverage on their latest operation against peaceful citizens as the videographer was the only representative from the media present at that time.

Read Royal Police the real threat to public order? for more details on the incident.

It was reported that the police brought in anti-riot personnels to quell the apparent 'unruly' crowd while they were singing the national anthem. Selangor Police Chief, Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar denied that the police had acted when the Negaraku was sung; saying it was a baseless claim by the participants of the gathering. It was understood that the incident was recorded by Shukri Mohamad, the Malaysiakini videographer who was subsequently arrested for 'being there'.

When the Selangor Police Chief was told that there was video proof on the allegations that the police had indeed arrested people while the Negaraku was sung, Khalid could only reply, "I deny it".

How does one deny an evidence? It is therefore an embarrassment for a police officer to come out and deny a misconduct despite evidences to prove it, let alone a high ranking official like Khalid.

However, the police could afford to dwell in denial as the only video evidence is in their hands after Shukri's video camera was seized during the crackdown. The police had also told reporters that the video camera will not be returned to the owner until the police have completed their investigations. Apparently, they need to 'look inside the camera' in order to assist in their probe.

This is a farce. What can the police possibly investigate further? Whether it's a Sony or a Panasonic? If the police would like to waste their time on investigating trivial matters, it would do the country some good if they could divert half of all that passion for C.S.I into solving real crimes and to help putting the plug on the escalating crime rates.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, however, defended the police for their actions at the BERSIH gathering. He said that the arrests made by the authorities were justified as it was required to maintain public order.

"In that situation, the police had to act as it is their responsibility to enforce the law and ensure public order is maintained," he told reporters at the parliament lobby. [The Malaysian Insider, 10/11/08]

Public order? Since when was the public in disorder during the gathering? For all that matters, the gathering only became disorderly when the police decided to handle a bunch of candle-holding, anthem-singing people as looting rioters.

Nonetheless, the real concern lies not in the seizure of Sony video cameras but the perplexing inability of the police to discern and grasp the difference of a peaceful gathering and a full-steam street riot.

Perhaps the Selangor Police Chief had thought that the public should not be playing with fire as candlelight vigils are prone to intensify into bush fires. That would probably explain the water cannon truck.
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Royal Police the real threat to public order?

Police detained PJ Utara MP Tony Pua and Kampung Tunku state assemblyman Lau Weng San at a rally in PJ New Town tonight to mark the first anniversary of the Bersih movement, which started in November last year. [The Malaysian Insider, 9/11/08]

MP Tony Pua and others were arrested for gathering at the PJ Civic Centre after they were earlier told not to hold a candlelight vigil in a nearby field. [Malaysiakini, 9/11/08]

The only thing the Royal Malaysian Police deserve a gold medal for is their inability to recognise priorities as a body that has the royal mandate to serve and protect the public. When police officers should be roaming the streets to flush out crooks and vices, precious manpower was senselessly put to waste when a peaceful rally for peace and justice was considered a menace to public order.

The gathering was initially planned at a field near Amcorp Mall, Petaling Jaya to mark the first anniversary of the BERSIH (Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections) movement, which started in November last year. The crowd was closely watched by two truckloads of policemen who decided to 'sit and wait' before taking any further action. Among those present were PJ Utara MP Tony Pua and blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin who was recently released from detention under the Internal Security Act. However, the assembly was soon called off as the police obstructed the proceedings and demanded that the crowd return immediately to their homes.

The lot, numbering hundreds, ignored the orders from the police and marched towards the nearby Petaling Jaya City Council to hold a candlelight vigil there instead. The police, along with anti-riot personnels decided to get ugly with the crowd as the people sang the national anthem, Negaraku before being dismissed.

It was understood that the anti-riot officers were fully equipped with shields and accompanied by a water canon truck. A videographer from Malaysiakini, Shukri Mohamad who decided to record the commotion was confronted by the police and was subsequently arrested for simply videotaping potential police hostility.

"I was recording the water canon truck when a police officer ordered me to stop videotaping. He also ordered to surrender my camera and the tape. I turned around and tried to leave but I was arrested there and then," Shukri Mohamad said. [Malaysiakini, 9/11/08]

Also arrested was PJ Utara MP Tony Pua who, according to witnesses, was harshly detained and chucked into a Black Maria, a vehicle used by the police to ferry prisoners. Police officers were also seen chasing people into restaurants in the area where many have taken refuge to avoid arrest.

The police have made 24 arrests so far.

The question now is with the police and the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar as to where their priorities lie in carrying out their duties. Cracking down on peaceful rallies seemed to be more of a bigger concern for Syed Hamid and his men than the rising crime rates around the country. Why the need for riot policemen when there wasn't a riot in the first place?

The latest nonsensicality of an incompetent police force had clearly shown what was more of a threat to national security and public order - candlelight vigils for peace or truckloads of anti-riot policemen using excessive force to disperse a non-existent mob.
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Johor and NS princes in a brawl at nightclub

KUALA LUMPUR: An alleged thrashing of a member of Malaysia's royal household and his friends by the grandson of the Sultan of Johor and his bodyguards last week looks set to renew debate over the indiscretions of the royalty and whether they are immune from prosecution. [The Straits Times Singapore, 31/10/08]

This piece of news probably did not get too far in the Malaysian press as the latest incident involving a bust-up between two princes had cast some serious doubts over the immunity of royalties from prosecution over acts of crime or indecency.

Tunku Nadzimuddin Tunku Mudzaffar, the son of the eldest princess of the Negeri Sembilan royalty had filed a police report, implicating that he was assaulted with the butt of a pistol by a grandson of the Sultan of Johor. The accused was identified only as Tengku Ismail, whose father is one of the Sultan's sons.

The brawl between the groups of the two royal household was said to have taken place at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur in the early hours of Saturday which left Tunku Nadzimuddin with a broken nose. His close friend, Shamshuddhuha Ishak also filed a separate police report that he was beaten by the bodyguards of the Johor royal household member at a popular nightclub in Kuala Lumpur on the same day. Shamshuddhuha told the police he had lost consciousness and a front tooth after the alleged beatings.

Sources close to the Negeri Sembilan royalty said there was intense lobbying to get Tunku Nadzimuddin and his friends to withdraw the police report. That would explain the limited if not, non-existent coverage by the local press on the matter which could embarrass both the Johor and Negeri Sembilan royal houses. Nonetheless, the Negeri Sembilan royal family remained unfazed and had called on the police to launch an investigation.

Under the Federal Constitution, Malaysia's nine Sultans who are in an unique rotation to serve as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, are above prosecution by the civil law and can only be tried by a special court. On the other hand, members of the royal family below the level of Sultan do not enjoy such protection and have legal parity with commoners; giving allowances for them to be charged in a civil court.

In the early 1990s, former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad had pushed for constitutional amendments into removing royalty immunity from prosecution by civil laws. After all, everyone is equal before the law and members of the royal family are not exempted nor do they deserve any special treatment if a crime has been committed.
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Govt defers another helicopter deal

The Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Musa Hassan said the Royal Malaysian Police will add 21 more helicopters to their fleet to improve the efficiency of the force patrolling the nation's waters. [Utusan Malaysia, 12/8/08]

In a report by Utusan Malaysia dated August 12, Tan Sri Musa Hassan announced that the purchase of 21 helicopters by the Royal Police was approved by the Cabinet. The force currently has 12 helicopters patrolling the country's waters but Musa expressed the limited numbers of helicopters were not adequate to effectively monitor our borders.

The total cost of the deal was never revealed to the public; fueling speculation that it may have been similarly overpriced as the recent controversial Eurocopter scandal. Information of the manufacturer, model, specifications, tenders and the company involved remained illusive from the public even two months after the Cabinet's decision to allocate funds for the purchase.

However, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang questioned Musa's claim of the apparent "Cabinet approval" of the deal. In his blog (http://blog.limkitsiang.com), the Ipoh Timur MP wrote "When did the Cabinet approve the purchase of 21 helicopters for the Police...?"

If there was indeed an official Cabinet sanction of the purchase, how could an MP not know about it? Even if such approvals by the Cabinet had indeed slipped Lim's mind , it still does not justify the government's failure to disclose the details of the purchase to taxpayers.

On October 28, the government decided to call off negotiations on the ostentatious purchase of 12 Eurocopter EC-725 Cougars in the wake of falling crude and palm oil revenues. The next project to be deferred was the procurement of 21 helicopters for the Royal Police. The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Amirsham Aziz announced so on the same day during the final minutes of the Parliament session. Indeed, such expensive undertakings like the purchase of the Eurocopters and the ones for the police had to be shelved to enable the government to divert precious public funds to more pressing matters.

Nonetheless, the question arises as to how many more mega projects are still hovering behind the backs of the Malaysian public that need to be scrapped to weather the global economic uncertainty. Whose call is it to make then, on which project goes and which ones stay?

Such of a responsibility lies in the hands of politicians whose cronies would have to endure massive financial setbacks whenever a government deal is called off.
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Police pack and leave for fear of high crime rates?

KUALA LUMPUR: A police beat base in the Chow Kit area of downtown Kuala Lumpur was closed down because it was in a location that was considered unsafe, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar. [The Star, 16/10/08]

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar (image) was confronted by Opposition MP Dr Lo’ Lo’ Mohamad Ghazali (PAS-Titiwangsa) over the latest closure of a police beat base in the heart of Kuala Lumpur's notorious red light district of Chow Kit.

A police beat base is a kiosk, manned by a few police officers with the intention to establish a police presence over a designated area.

The Titiwangsa MP had asked why was the police beat base removed from an area where vice-related activities and crimes were rife. He also demanded an explanation by the Home Ministry over the actions taken by the police so far to curb such activities.

The expected course of action by the police is the exact reverse. In fact, higher crime rates should prompt more police beat bases to be constructed, does it not?

The Home Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar reasoned that the beat base had to be relocated because it was situated in a dirty area; hence the possibility of a contagious disease that could endanger the police officers on duty. Furthermore, he assured that the police were already looking for a new location for the beat base in order to give “guaranteed and continued service to the public.”

The only "guaranteed service to the public" is the growing incompetence displayed by a force that has the royal mandate to serve and protect.

Dr. Mohd Hatta Ramli (PAS-Kuala Krai) also joined in the fray when he suggested otherwise - that the police were actually afraid of the criminals rather than being overly cautious over their health or civic cleanliness. He also said that Syed Hamid's response to the issue was not rational nor satisfactory.

"The police are there to make a place safe. If they themselves are scared and run away, then how can we hope for others to want to be there? It is embarrassing and that is why the criminals will always be there,” he said in Parliament. [The Star, 16/10/08]

If the police themselves are afraid of the criminals in Chow Kit, what hope is there for the ordinary Malaysian?

Indeed, Syed Hamid Albar never ceases to amaze the Malaysian public with his 'intelligent' reasoning in order to piece an excuse of justifying negligence. The Home Minister argued that Chow Kit was a filthy place filled with trash.

True but why not just summon the City Hall to clean up the trash?

Syed Hamid also pointed out that due to the large amount of trash, the Chow Kit area poses the risk of a contagious disease. The only contagious disease known to exist in Chow Kit are sexually-transmitted ones. After all, Chow Kit is notorious for its brothels and prostitution rings.

Of course, unless Syed Hamid is trying to imply that the police officers stationed there also indulge in such "recreations" when off-duty?

The Home Minister owes an explanation to the Malaysian people; the police cannot just hide in their excuses of excessive trash or infectious diseases to keep themselves from fulfilling their duty to uphold the law and security. In Chow Kit or anywhere else, the only trash that Malaysians are truly concerned about are the criminals who still roam freely in the streets when they should be behind bars.

But then again, if there was truly a risk of a contagious disease, why only save the police, Syed Hamid?
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Police tampered with evidences used against Raja Petra?

Key materials based on which the sedition charge against blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin was framed have been tampered with, his lawyer J Chandra claimed today. [Malaysiakini, 9/10/08]

October 9, 2008: The prosecution just admitted that the exhibit which forms the foundation of the charge against RPK was not originally taken from Malaysia-Today but was a police cut-&-paste job.They also did not deny that a large part of the original article is true. [Malaysia Today, 9/10/08]

On October 6, controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin (image) was taken to the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court to face a sedition trial regarding his article, Let's send the Altantuya murderers to hell dated April 25 on his website, Malaysia Today.

The 58 year old was charged for implying Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor were involved in the murder of Mongolian national, Altantuya Shaariibuu. Raja Petra was arrested on September 12 for another article of his for allegedly "insulting Islam" and have been sentenced to 2 years in detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

If found guilty of sedition, Raja Petra could face up to three years of imprisonment or not more than RM5,000 fine, or both. However, signs of police hanky panky in their handling of the case were already showing.

On October 9, it was reported that the prosecutor admitted that there was a mistake by the police in the exhibit that formed the foundation of the sedition charge. Raja Petra's defence lawyer J. Chandra claimed that key materials used as evidence against the blogger was altered and tempered with; possibly to frame his client.

True enough, the prosecutor conceded that the evidences brought against Raja Petra was not originally taken from his site, Malaysia Today but was also a police cut and paste job. Reports also disclosed that the prosecutor did not deny the truth contained in a large part of Raja Petra's article.

Justice Rozina Ayob, who is presiding the trial was shocked to learn that the evidences were manipulated and could therefore dismiss the sedition charge all together. However, the prosecution sought to stand down on the trial and requested for more time to decide their next decisive step as their initial charge was faulty to begin with. The court was adjourned to October 13.

This was not the first time the prosecutor embarrassed themselves over Raja Petra's sedition charge in court. On the first day of the trial, deputy public prosecutor Farhan Read summoned Harme Mohamed, a 39-year-old information technology expert from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) as trial's first witness. The commission was responsible for the closure on the Malaysia Today on August 27 but the ban on the site have been lifted.

Harme was called to the stand to explain on various technical terms and the basic technology behind website hosting. The prosecutor spent 5 hours questioning the technology expert over the definitions of the internet, servers, internet service providers (ISP), online blogs, Wikipedia and so on.

Judge Rozina Ayob was reportedly annoyed with the prosecutor's irrelevant questions like Wikipedia and blogs and subsequently told Farhan to rephrase his lengthy questions and avoid repetition. However, when asked to explain the relevancy of his questions, Farhan failed to provide a sound explanation and then withdrew his prior queries.

If Raja Petra's trial wasn't already a waste of time, a 5 hour long lecture on the internet and Wikipedia by a lawyer certainly was.

During a cross-examination session, the MCMC technology expert also confessed that he was an avid Malaysia Today reader; browsing through Raja Petra's Malaysia Today at least once a week. Nonetheless, the prosecution intends to call six to seven more witnesses to testify against Raja Petra.

Perhaps six to seven more Malaysia Today readers too?

The disgraceful shams from the public prosecutor further affirms that the arrest of Raja Petra was altogether baseless and unlawful. The fact that the evidence was manipulated and the countless irrelevant questions were enough to show that the instigators of Raja Petra's downfall were indeed running in circles.

The prosecutors of this trial might just stand a better chance in proving that cows could fly rather than making a stab at framing an innocent man of a non-existant crime.


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Don't expect caviar for ISA detainees

But at least provide decent meals for them...

DAP MP Teresa Kok who was detained for 7 days under the Internal Security Act, revealed that the food provided for her during police custody were similar to "dog food". [Malaysiakini, 19/9/08]

The Public Complaints Bureau (BCB) will meet Seputeh MP Teresa Kok on Monday to investigate claims that she was not given proper food during her detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA). [Malaysiakini, 21/9/08]

Teresa was held under the ISA after former Selangor Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mohd Khir Toyo and Utusan Malaysia columnist, Zaini Hassan accused her of campaigning against the Muslim Azan prayer call by mosques around Puchong and Kota Damansara. She was then released by the authorities on September 19 due to the lack of evidence.

Many have publicly condemned the arrest; as a result Zaid Ibrahim resigned from the Cabinet as Law Minister in protest of the unlawful arrest. Teresa is now seeking to sue Utusan Malaysia and Khir Toyo for defamation; reportedly for RM30 million.

Read: Whatever Utusan Malaysia says is true! for more details.

The Seputeh MP shared her experience while in police detention to reporters during a press conference organised by DAP. [Malaysiakini, 19/9/08]:

• Upon her arrest, she was denied the right to make a telephone call to her lawyer or family.
  
• She was confined to a 6 x 8 meter cell.
• There was no air ventilation.
• She had to spend the night on a wooden plank.

Teresa raised more eyebrows when she said she was served with what she likened as "dog food". She revealed that she was only given 2 hard boiled eggs, cucumber and gravy - twice a day (lunch and dinner).

She got the attention of the Public Complaints Bureau (PCB) who has promised to investigate Teresa's claims of the poor treatment she received during her detention. Deputy Minister of the Prime Minister's Department T. Murugiah said he, along with PCB officers will meet Teresa to acquire more information on the matter.

“I am shocked with Kok’s comments on the food. I will be handing in a report on my findings to the Home Minister and the Prime Minister,” he said. [The Star, 21/9/08]

If the Deputy Minister was shocked of Teresa's comments, he should get a cardiac arrest for this: The Star reported that only RM5.80 have been allocated a day for food for suspects in police lock-ups. Of course, T. Murugiah's heart was still functioning quite well when he said,

“If it is true, then it is definitely not enough especially with the price of goods going up. A detainee needs to have breakfast, lunch and dinner." [The Star, 21/9/08]

T. Murugiah who is also the chief of the PCB suggested that each detainee should be allocated RM10 a day for meals; including breakfast, lunch and dinner.

“We want transparency. I’m quite serious about this and I dont want this to be swept under the carpet. I’m not happy that this news has gone international,” he said. [The Star, 21/9/08]

The Malaysian Bar Council have called on the government to immediately release all detainees under the ISA and charged them in a civil court. There are currently 60 people still detained under ISA and more than 2000 people imprisoned under various preventive laws. [Malaysiakini, 20/9/08]

The majority of Malaysians are not bothered if ISA detainees have caviar for breakfast or truffles for dessert. The unlawful detention of individuals without trial can never be justified with better living conditions. The ISA may be an obsolete piece of legislature but it's sting on freedom is still as painful as it was back then in the 1960's.
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Whatever Utusan Malaysia says is absolutely true!

According to the police, at least.

DAP Seputeh MP Teresa Kok (image) was released at 1pm today, after being held under the Internal Security Act for a week, revealed her lawyer Sankara Nair. [Malaysiakini, 19/9/08]

Police investigation on Teresa Kok was said to be based on an article published by Utusan Malaysia. The writing covered the issues of the Muslim prayer call, Jawi writing, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and pigs. [Malaysiakini, 19/9/08]


DAP MP Teresa Kok was arrested on September 12 under the infamous Internal Security Act (ISA) for allegedly leading a petition to the Selangor State Assembly for the ban of the Muslim azan prayer call in Puchong and Kota Damansara. The arrest came after a Malay language daily, Utusan Malaysia and former Selangor Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Mohd Khir Toyo accused the Seputeh MP in the article, "Azan, jawi, JAIS, UiTM dan ba-alif-ba-ya".

Teresa was defended by Kota Raja MP Dr. Siti Mariah Mahmud of PAS. She lodged a police report against Khir Toyo (image) for making false accusations and seditious remarks about the Seputeh MP. However, the police have yet to take any action. Utusan Malaysia columnist, Zaini Hassan on the other hand reported that a female politician had gone to a mosque early in the morning to ask the congregation not to use loudspeakers.

Both Khir Toyo and Utusan Malaysia columnist Zaini Hassan could not provide any solid evidence against Teresa to support their claims. However, Khir Toyo had mentioned that he had seen the petition with "his own eyes". The existence of the petition was fervently denied by Teresa and Dr. Siti Mariah. Even the mosque mentioned in Zaini's report refuted his claims; saying they had no knowledge of any female politician setting foot in their compound.

Interestingly enough, Utusan Malaysia is owned by UMNO.

The DAP MP from Seputeh was investigated by the police on the claims of:

1. her participation in a movement by Bandar Kinrara residents to hand in a petition to ban the Muslim azan prayer call;
2. her suggestion to allocate 30% of the Selangor Islamic Department's (JAIS) budget to non-Muslim organisations;
3. her opposition to the replacement of existing signboards in Kuala Lumpur with the Jawi writings.
   

Teresa Kok denied the first two claims but she did explained her reason for opposing the replacement of signboards in the city early this year as she felt it would be waste of public funds to do so. The existing signboards in Kuala Lumpur are currently written in romanized Malay.

Upon her release from detention, Teresa told reporters that the police did not present any evidence against her during interrogations but only harped on the three accusations raised by Utusan Malaysia. It was clear that the police had acted in response of an article without prior rational judgement.

"I was shocked as no other questions were asked of me apart from those issues (the list above). How could the police take the article by Utusan Malaysia word for word without any thorough investigation on the columnist (Zaini Hassan) who wrote it?" she told reporters. [Malaysiakini, 19/8/08]

Which part of the saying "innocent till proven guilty" did the police not understand?

On the other hand, it was also reported that columnist Zaini Hassan challenged Teresa Kok to take a lie-detector test to proof her innocence. Shouldn't Zaini be out there trying to prove her crime with solid evidences first? The lack of logic and critical thinking from a journalist like Zaini was indeed disturbing; yet amusing at the same time.

Questions have been raised on why Khir Toyo and Zaini Hassan have been spared from the jaws of the ISA. On September 12, Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng (image) was arrested for apparently over-reporting Ahmad Ismail's alleged racist remarks against the Chinese community. Ironically, Ahmad Ismail was not held responsible by the police but Tan, who was blamed for ballooning the matter into a "racial issue". She was subsequently arrested under the ISA.

The difference between Tan Hoon Cheng and Zaini Hassan was the truth and substance in their reports. What then does the police make of the Utusan Malaysia columnist who unlike Tan, was obviously guilty for false reporting?

"Therefore, I urge the police to launch an investigation on the editors of Utusan Malaysia, Zaini Hassan and Dr. Mohamad Khir Toyo under the Sedition Act," Teresa called on the authorities to be fair in their pursuit for justice. [Malaysiakini, 19/9/08]

It was reported that Teresa had decided to sue Utusan Malaysia for RM30 million for defamation. She also demanded that the Malay language daily not to repeat their seditious accusations and comments in any of their future articles.

On a side note, DAP national chairman Karpal Singh have also filed a RM10 million suit against Utusan Malaysia for misquoting him on a matter relating to Islam in their article, "DAP diingat jangan bakar perasaan Melayu (DAP reminded not to inflame sentiments of Malays)" dated August 25.

Had Utusan Malaysia been considered as holy scripture; so much so that the police were willing to act on their claims without any prior investigation? The force has been entrusted to protect the people but with the recent ISA travesties, it would take a lot for the Royal Malaysian Police to restore public confidence.

Perhaps Utusan Malaysia should report on the little green men living on the moon and we might just see a squad of policemen in the next space launch.
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Political antagonists more dangerous than rapists, robbers and murderers?

Controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin was arrested today under the Internal Security Act for allegedly being a threat to security, peace and public order. [Malaysiakini, 12/9/08]

Sin Chew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng has been arrested today under the Internal Security Act at 8.30pm at her home in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. [Malaysiakini, 12/9/08]

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP MP Teresa Kok is the latest to be arrested under Section 73 (1) if the ISA Friday. [The Star, 12/9/08]

Three arrests under the ISA in a day? Though Malaysians have yet to see any extensive arrests of robbers/rapists/snatch thieves/kidnappers by the authorities in one day, at least we know the government is good at something.
________________________________________

Raja Petra Kamaruddin (image) was arrested for allegedly "insulting Islam" in his article Not all Arabs are descendants of the Prophet and his commentary on Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's letter, I Promise to be a good, non-hypocritical Muslim. His arrest, of course came under the orders of Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar who acted on the Internal Security Act (ISA).

You may read both the articles here and judge for yourself whether they were truly disrespectful to Islam:

1. Not all Arabs are descendants of the Prophet
2. I promise to be a good, non-hypocritical Muslim

The Internal Security Act allows the arrest of a person without trial on the claims of national security by the government. This legislature was first introduced by the British to quell the communist insurgency in 1948. It was then inherited by the Malaysian government when the country gained independence in 1957. Since communism no longer pose any threat today, the question still remains on why the ISA is still being allowed to run; creating potential avenues for it to be used for political agendas.

The Home Minister explained that Raja Petra was arrested under Section 73 (1) of the act. Plus, his ministry has the authority to extend Raja Petra's detention period to more than 60 days.

“The police will do an assessment during this period and if they feel he should be held more than 60 days, the police will then refer to me,” he said. [The Star, 12/9/08]

Ironically, Raja Petra was arrested 24 hours after the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) lifted the ban on his site, Malaysia Today. He was previously charged for sedition for linking Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak with the murder of a Mongolian citizen, Altantuyaa.
________________________________________

Sin Chew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng (image) was also arrested at her home in Penang. Tan was the journalist responsible for reporting Ahmad Ismail's racist comments. The latter had allegedly called the Chinese "squatters" and had refused to apologise for his racial slur. He related the refusal to apologise as a gesture of defending the pride and dignity of the Malays.

Ahmad Ismail had also expressed his intention to sue the reporter who, according to him, have "blown the issue out of proportion" and turning it into a "racial issue". The Sin Chew Daily reporter chose to stand by her report and claimed that the other reporters who were with her then can back her up. Datuk Seri Najib Razak's prior apology also meant that he agreed with the reporter that Ahmad Ismail had indeed said those racist remarks.

So since when reporting racism was racist?

However, Ahmad Ismail was only given a slap on the wrist - a 3 year suspension of his party membership; sentenced not by a civil court nor the ISA but by UMNO's supreme council.
________________________________________

Seputeh MP and Selangor state exco assemblywoman Teresa Kok (image) became the third person to be arrested under the ISA. She was accused of leading a petition to the state assembly for the ban on the Muslim Azan prayer call by mosques in Puchong and Kota Damansara. Former Selangor Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Mohd Khir Toyo made the allegation through the Malay-language newpaper, Utusan Malaysia. [Malaysiakini, 12/9/08]

Khir Toyo could not provide any evidence at the moment but have said that he had "seen the petition with his own eyes."

PAS came in defense of Teresa by filing a police report against Khir Toyo for his baseless accusations. Kota Raja MP Dr. Siti Mariah Mahmud have called on the police to investigate Khir Toyo's accusations which she claimed were seditious and had the intent to incite racial disharmony. Both Teresa and Dr. Siti Mariah have denied the existence of any petition for the ban on Muslim prayer calls.

Teresa was returning home from a mooncake festival function in Kuala Lumpur when she was stopped by three police cars at approximately 11.20pm. She will also be charged under Section 73 (1) of the ISA.
________________________________________

There is no certainty if there would be any more arrests to follow in the next few days. The previous political spring cleaning was back in 1987 which saw the arrests of 106 persons and the revoke of printing rights on four publishers under the infamous ISA.

Could September 12 be the beginning of history repeating itself?

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The Royal Malaysian Police - Quantity or Quality?

The statistics (source) released by the Royal Malaysian Police revealed that on June 2008, the total crime index stands at a shocking 106,753. That's about an average of 586 criminal cases a day. Malaysians can only speculate what lies ahead for them in the following months to come. Just when things couldn't get any worse, the success rate of solving cases plunged from 46.5% in 2004 to a low 39.3% last year. If this was an examination, the police would have gotten an "F" from the start. The government continues to pledge to expand the police force which currently stands at about 93,000 strong in the next few years. But the question is: Can the crime levels be brought down by merely increasing the number of police officers? Perhaps in retrospect, the issue of 'quality' over weighs the 'quantity' in certain areas of the Royal Malaysian Police in its quest to lower crime levels.


On March 4, 2008 Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (below) promised to ensure steps will be taken by the government and the police to address the increasing crime rate problem.

" We are adding 60,000 more police personnel by 2011 and we will set up more than 150 new police stations and beat bases. We will expand the police presence in neighbourhoods, improve safety in school, playgrounds and public areas, and enhance community policing through partnerships with non-governmental organizations, the private sector and local communities."
[Reuters, 4/3/2008]

There is no disagreement on the fact that our police force have long been under-staffed. It would be too much to ask 93,000 officers to protect and guard the entire Malaysian population of 27.5 million. However, there is also no guarantee that even a police contingent of 200,000 can effectively carry out their duty and reduce the crime levels. The Royal Malaysian Police have a lot to do to repair the damaged reputation of their organisation. The following news headlines certainly did not do much good for the image of the force.

JOHOR BARU: Some RM1 million worth of syabu, believed to be from the biggest drug bust of the year, has been reported missing from the state police headquarters. It is learnt that the thieves, alleged to be policemen, had used acid to melt the padlock. [NST, 5/8/2008]

KUALA LUMPUR: A student is suing a constable for allegedly raping and forcing her to perform oral sex in a police station on June 18. The 17-year-old girl is also suing the Government for alleged negligence in ensuring her safety in the station. [The Star, 23/8/2008]

How are the crime levels ought to be brought under control when the supposed crime fighters are committing crimes themselves? Who does the public turn to now for protection? Even the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Musa Hassan (left) was once investigated for corruption. But the case was ordered to be closed by a higher authority because of the lack of evidence (source). From its leaders to police equipments, this is the meaning of the "quality" that the government desperately needs to review. The government must therefore do more than just organizing a massive recruitment drive for the police if they really want to effectively reduce the crime levels of this country. It must not worsen for the Malaysian public deserves to walk freely on the streets and be safe in their own homes, schools and workplaces!

However, the Royal Malaysian Police were pretty efficient of late when it came to sodomy investigations, DNA demanding and raiding homes of prominent bloggers. They seemed more interested in arresting political activists than the rapists, robbers and murderers who according to statistics risk the lives of Malaysians 586 times a day. So who's to say that the police cannot be efficient. They just have to get their priorities right...and their pockets clean.



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