Is there light at the end of tunnel in police corruption fight?

THE two positions that are highly scrutinised – the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner – come with high responsibilities and expectations as their roles are stressful and among the toughest jobs in the public service.

The MACC is entrusted to investigates high-profile corruption cases to reduce leakages and recovering the nation’s wealth while the police force is tasked with maintaining law and order while protecting our lives and property.

They put their lives on the line in performing their duties to serve the public, rain and shine. At times, it seems like it is a thankless job as the plaudits are few and far between for the police personnel who tirelessly perform their duties.

The police force must confront their reality that it has among its workforce those who are “poisoning the well”, hence the rouges need to be weeded out.

The reality is based on results of the recent arrest of police officers and various surveys conducted on the police force. For example, Transparency International’s Global Corruption Barometer 2020 results show that the police force in Malaysia is perceived to be one of the most corrupted institutions.

In the latest Police Corruption Index (PCI), the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) is ranked 34 out of 100 countries where the most corrupted is the National Police of Honduras (1) while the least corrupted is the Police of Denmark which is ranked (100).

Walk the talk

PDRM has many capable leaders within its ranks who are working tirelessly to clean up the force and getting rid of police personnel at every level who have abused their authority or tarnished the force’s image. A few bad apples should not spoil the barrel of apples.

Give credit where credit is due. The new police line-up headed by IGP Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, his deputy Datuk Seri Ayob Khan and Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain who heads the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department has given Malaysians some light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to crime.

Three of these seniors’ officers walk their talk. The IGP himself is showing good examples when he made a surprise visit to the police stations in Nilai IPD, Mantin and Tambun to meet, advice, review the assignment of officers as well as the victims or complainants.

@igrazor

Susulan lawatan mengejut saya ke Pusat Kawalan Daerah (DCC), Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Kajang semalam, saya telah meneruskan lawatan ke IPD Nilai dan Lokap Balai Polis Mantin di Negeri Sembilan, semalam. Tujuan tinjauan penugasan terhadap pegawai dan anggota saya di lapangan bukanlah untuk mencari kesalahan dan menjatuhkan hukuman. Jika pasti berlakunya kesilapan atau kekhilafan petugas di lapangan, ianya perlu dinasihat, ditegur dan diperbetulkan segera agar tidak menjadi ikutan serta amalan yang salah. Sama-sama kita perbetulkan yang biasa dan membiasakan yang betul. InsyaAllah. #igrazor #polisdirajamalaysia #pdrm #fyp

♬ original sound – Tan Sri Razarudin Husain – Tan Sri Razarudin Husain

 

The federal police Integrity and Standards Compliance Department (JIPS) under the leadership of Datuk Seri Azri Ahmad is speeding up their hunt for errant cops.

In order achieve success in confronting their reality, the IGP needs full and sincere support from all the Bukit Aman’s directors, the state chief police officers, the officer-in-charge of the police districts as well as well as all other officers to clean up their act. These supervisors must step up in leading and managing their subordinates

He told the OCPDs that they would be held accountable if Bukit Aman detects any of their subordinates living extravagantly beyond their positions and salaries and they would be answerable for any crime happens in their districts.

Ridding the bad apples

His mission is to restore the force’s honour and restore the public trust. The other good idea that must be applauded initiated by the IGP is the plan for good succession planning to reform the police force by selecting officers who are genuinely qualified for promotions or placements in specific departments to ensure his legacy and continuity.

He needs good and capable successors so that his efforts are not derailed. In the end, if his efforts are derailed, it is PDRM that will be at a loss.

@igrazor

Petang semalam saya membuat lawatan mengejut ke Pusat Kawalan Daerah (DCC), Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Kajang bagi meninjau sendiri operasi harian pegawai dan anggota yang bertugas di lapangan. Walaupun sedang cuti umum perayaan Tahun Baharu Cina, kesiapsiagaan warg Sang Saka Biru di lapangan untuk menjaga keselamatan dan ketenteraman awam masyarakat sentiasa pada tahap yang tinggi. Peluang bertemu, berkomunikasi, memberi teguran dan nasihat dengan semua petugas di lapangan tadi bukanlah satu permulaan atau pengakhiran. Saya akan sentiasa meninjau pelaksanaan tugas pegawai dan anggota di lapangan pada setiap waktu. Insya-Allah. #igrazor #polisdirajamalaysia #pdrm #fyp

♬ original sound – Tan Sri Razarudin Husain – Tan Sri Razarudin Husain

Generally, there are four typologies of police officers around the world – (i) the avoiders (ones who avoid work); (ii) enforcers (fond of arresting); (iii) idealist (mostly theoretical); and (iv) the professional (knowledgeable, skilled and experienced) who are needed to handle all situations well.

The government should also consider increasing the budget of the force. This is to financially assist them by providing good infrastructure and facilities to ensure comfort by providing a higher quality living quarters in addition to showing concern for the welfare of the rank-and-file police personnel by reviewing their current benefits and allowances.

This is to prevent poor housing becoming a factor that can affect their work productivity and ultimately compromising the integrity of the police force.

The rakyat wants to be proud of their police force – one who performs its duties diligently in maintaining law and order while protecting the country with the highest level of integrity. Let’s all work together to make their vision a reality. The rakyat too must support our police. And that, I can say with full confidence. – Feb 20, 2024

 

Datuk Seri Akhbar Satar is president of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners-Malaysia Chapter.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.

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