A PICTURE paints a thousand words, but how can one paint an accurate picture of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM)? After all, none other than Inspector General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Musa Hassan has been a regular headline grabber over the past year.
When he came into power in 2004, then Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi saw to the setting up of the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysian Police.
In May 2005, the commission came up with 125 recommendations to improve PDRM. One of the recommendations was for an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to be set up.
Fast forward exactly one year later. With the IPCMC still unimplemented, PDRM in its internal bulletin Berita Bukit Aman alleged that the IPCMC was “unconstitutional, prejudicial to national security and public order, [could] cause a state of anarchy and [undermine] the ruling coalition’s power.” Its views were echoed by de facto law minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz in Parliament on 30 June 2009.
Things have pretty much gone downhill if police actions are any indicator. In the run-up to the March 2008 general election, PDRM gained notoriety for clamping down on all manner of peaceful public assemblies — whether on electoral reforms, the plight of Indian Malaysians, or for human rights in general.
And since the March 2008 elections, PDRM started to appear even more in the news, but for all the wrong reasons. A brief chronology is in order:
13 Nov 2008: The IGP warns non-Muslims to stop challenging the National Fatwa Council’s ruling that tomboyism was haram. He says the police “will take stern action as it involves national security.”
16 Dec 2008: Thirty people are arrested in the “Cycling for Change” campaign, organised by the Oppressed People’s Network (Jerit). Among others, the campaign called for a minimum wage act to be introduced, and for the Internal Security Act (ISA) to be abolished.
20 Jan 2009: A Kugan, 22, who was arrested on 15 Jan 2009 on suspicion of being involved in the theft of luxury cars, dies in police custody. An initial autopsy report states that the death was due to fluid accumulation in the lungs. Three days later, Attorney-General (AG) Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail classifies Kugan’s death in police custody as murder. A second autopsy finds that Kugan was beaten to death.
28 Feb 2009: Police use water cannons to disperse a crowd of about 300 people who had gathered to lodge a mass report against the alleged mistreatment of former ISA detainee P Uthayakumar.
7 Mar 2009: Riot police fire teargas at hundreds of people who try to march towards Istana Negara, protesting the policy of using English to teach Science and Mathematics.
11 Mar 2009: The government tables the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) Bill that promises a beefed-up body to probe complaints against enforcement agencies, including the police. This is despite criticisms that the EAIC will have no teeth, and more calls for the IPCMC Bill to be tabled instead.
5 May 2009: Political scientist Wong Chin Huat is arrested for sedition for writing several articles, including on the 1BLACKMalaysia campaign. Wong’s arrest is the first of what amounts to a crackdown on more than 100 activists, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders and lawyers in less than 72 hours, including those gathered in front of the Perak state assembly on 7 May.
27 May 2009: Deputy IGP Tan Sri Ismail Omar says the ISA is still relevant to curb threats to the country’s security and economy but is not meant to oppress anyone.
15 June 2009: A suspected thief is found dead in a lock-up in Damansara police station after a guard noticed the 53-year-old man lying flat beside the toilet.
21 June 2009: Police withdraw a permit for a dinner-cum-ceramah by the DAP in Klang at the very last minute. On the same day, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein says he will revisit the 125 recommendations made by the royal commission in 2005, hinting that this is because the recommendations have not been implemented properly. Two days later, Hishammuddin backtracks, and says that instead of revisiting the 125 recommendations, the ministry will instead think of a “new strategy” to “boost public confidence” in PDRM.
24 June 2009: Nazri says the AG’s Chambers will not take any action against the perpetrators of A Kugan’s death before 21 Aug 2009. On the same day, police in Selangor deny the DAP a permit, yet again, to hold a dinner gathering with speeches at Taman Sri Sungai Pelek Community Hall on 25 June.
What? Nothing about snatch thieves, rapists, wife-beaters and actual, real-life criminals? But there it is — the headlines speak for themselves. It does seem, though, that reducing all of this to Six Words on the police is not going to be easy.
Well, “Nut” is not The Nut Graph‘s middle name for nothing — we believe it can be done. Paint your picture of the Royal Malaysia Police in only six words. Here are some of The Nut Graph‘s humble attempts:
Moto polis: “Tegas, Adil, dan Berhemah.”
Childhood ambition. Then I grew up.
Pay them higher salaries, less corruption?
Police need diversity and gender training.
Children’s hero. People’s fear. Politicians’ puppet.
Double standards for powerful and powerless.
When is Musa going to resign?
Snatch thieves rule! Where’s the police?
We need a new police force.
Reform, reform, reform, reform, reform, reform.
Arrest candlelight vigilers. Water cannon dinners.
Beat them to death in detention.
Would you trust a police officer?
Police behave like raja di Malaysia.
Placing Our Lives In Corrupt Enforcers.
Uniforms do not equate absolute authority.
Focus on vehicular congestion, not human.
May the force be with you.
Easier to arrest than reform democracy.
Arrest now, ask questions later. Understand?
1Malaysia, many laws, no IPCMC, 1PDRM.
Who needs a military coup anyway?
Aktivis lebih bahaya daripada perogol bersiri!
I see dead people … in detention.
Desperate politicians call for desperate enforcement.
BN’s biggest public relations disaster yet.
The good ones need positive support.
“Maaf encik. Can buy you tea?”
The Nut Graph loves cute uniforms.
Inspired by Ernest Hemingway‘s genius, the Six Words On… section challenges readers to give us their comments about a current issue, contemporary personality or significant event in just six words. The idea is to get readers engaged in an issue that The Nut Graph identifies, while having fun and being creatively disciplined.
Justitia says
One police to rule them all.
chinhuatw says
Thou shall not violate constitutional rights.
Thou shall not mutiny against democracy.
Thou shall not work for bribes.
Thou shall not torture any detainees.
Thou shall not arrest without warrant.
Thou shall not protect with ISA.
Thou shall not interrupt others’ dinners.
Thou shall not arrest Negaraku singers.
Thou shall not dictate shirt colour.
Thou shall not lie at work.
Would ten commandments be enough? Never.
Could ten commandments be observed? Insya’Allah.
Main says
Never undermine the Malaysian law enforcers.
Pratamad says
PDRM has long changed to PRDM.
Blurring the good and the bad.
Hafidz Baharom says
If detained, avoid drinking the water.
NutzeyWagen says
Malaysian police loves the colour BLACK!
Candles and cakes are their favourites.
Gas and water, police’s favourite toys.
Azmi Anuar says
Police, Police, Please Wherefore Art Thou?
amir says
Making sure DAP members dine safely.
Kugiran “Every Breath You Take” kan?
[Editor’s note: I had mistakenly and orginally changed “Kugiran” to “Kugan” without checking with the reader if that was what he meant. My apologies for assuming that I knew better. I don’t. I have since been educated that Kugiran is a word invented by P Ramlee. It’s short for kumpulan gitar rancak, and means band.
Jacqueline.]
Don’t cop out on the IPCMC.
Hean says
Licensed thugs. Umno’s bodyguards. People’s bogey.
Philip Selvaraj says
Corrupt police necessary for Umno’s survival.
Reza says
Unabashed hench[persons] of our ruling coalition.
We serve BN, not the rakyat.
What happened to the evidence? Lost!
Gestapo, Schutzstaffel, Spanish Inquisition, Malaysian Police.
Leithaisor says
Once well respected, now derided. Sad.
siew eng says
“Mesra, cepat dan betul” – apa peratusannya?
Mesra – hanya kepada kerajaan Barisan Nasional.
Cepat – dalam melanggar hak asasi manusia.
Betul – I’m still thinking about this…
Sokong IPCMC untuk menyelamatkan maruah polis.
Naoko says
Don’t get arrested, you’ll be killed!
I feel unsafe with cops around.
Knowing rights first step to enlightenment.
Most cops are nice, some insulting.
Personal experience? Underpaid, underappreciated, but nice.
ahoo says
Police to victims: Prove your innocence.
Police said, guilty until proven innocent.
You salah, mau saman atau settle?
anthony says
Heads I win, tails you lose!
ganesh says
Never around when you need them.
Mata Duit says
Paid Officers Licensed In Corrupt Exploitation
Michael Voon says
National security above all human rights.
MarinaM says
Human rights? Apa tu human rights?
lucia says
Who’s afraid of the police? Everyone!
People fear police more than criminals.
We need to police the police.
The police works exclusively for Umno.
Mly says
Polis lawan komunis. Komunis pengkhianat negara.
Edward says
Malaysian mafia in dark blue uniforms.
Eskay says
Robbers run wild, where’re the cops?
Men in blue, hiding behind trees.
So eveready to nab traffic offenders.
cjsavvy says
Licensed gangsters number nine, nine, nine.
David Anthony says
Don’t simply throw your weight around.
Serve the people, they’re your boss.
reza salleh says
A tool for our federal fools.
Protect? Serve? A steep learning curve.
Increase pay to counteract dirty police?
Power trips by underpaid uniformed hicks.
“So macam mana? Belum makan ni.”
MXVoon says
“Jangan kasi saya. Taruh bawah J-Card.”
wywy says
RM50 mana cukup? Kita tiga orang!
Jason Sim says
Maaf tuan…Tuan sudah minum kopi?
Sonia says
“Never undermine the Malaysian law enforcers.”
Was this directed at police themselves?
Obie says
A necessary evil. But unnecessarily evil.
tj wong says
Road blocks are very useful, not.
Shoot on sight, save on paperwork.
It’s a thug life, police rap.
Guilty until innocent or the morgue.
annej says
Malaysia – a “lovely” authoritarian police state.
James says
Fear not criminals, police much worse.
Having police misdeeds, who needs criminals?
nihonboy says
“tunjuk IC” = craving for coffee