• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • RSS
  • Archives
  • Subscribe
The Nut Graph

The Nut Graph

Making Sense of Politics & Pop Culture

  • Projects
    • MP Watch
    • Found in Conversation
  • Current Issues
    • 6 Words
    • Commentary
    • Features
    • Found in Quotation
    • News
  • Columns
  • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Found in Malaysia
  • Multimedia
    • Audio
    • Pictures
    • Videos
  • Corrections
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Vault
    • Found in Translation

Police

[get_post_meta single=1 key="byline"] | July 1, 2009 36 Comments

Image of a police barrier in Dataran Merdeka

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.

Police at the 7 March protest

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:

Cindy Tham:

Moto polis: “Tegas, Adil, dan Berhemah.”

Deborah Loh:

Childhood ambition. Then I grew up.

Pay them higher salaries, less corruption?

Police need diversity and gender training.

Gan Pei Ling:

Children’s hero. People’s fear. Politicians’ puppet.

Double standards for powerful and powerless.

When is Musa going to resign?

Jacqueline Ann Surin:

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?

Lainie Yeoh:

Police behave like raja di Malaysia.

Nick Choo:

Placing Our Lives In Corrupt Enforcers.

Uniforms do not equate absolute authority.

Focus on vehicular congestion, not human.

May the force be with you.

Shanon Shah:

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.

Zedeck Siew:

“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.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Related Stories

Filed Under: 6 Words Tagged With: 1BLACKMalaysia, A Kugan, Abdul Gani Patail, Hishammuddin Hussein, ISA, Jerit, Nazri Aziz, police, police brutality, police force, Tan Sri Ismail Omar, Wong Chin Huat

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Justitia says

    July 1, 2009 at 9:12 am

    One police to rule them all.

  2. chinhuatw says

    July 1, 2009 at 10:02 am

    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.

  3. Main says

    July 1, 2009 at 10:22 am

    Never undermine the Malaysian law enforcers.

  4. Pratamad says

    July 1, 2009 at 11:01 am

    PDRM has long changed to PRDM.

    Blurring the good and the bad.

  5. Hafidz Baharom says

    July 1, 2009 at 11:39 am

    If detained, avoid drinking the water.

  6. NutzeyWagen says

    July 1, 2009 at 12:46 pm

    Malaysian police loves the colour BLACK!

    Candles and cakes are their favourites.

    Gas and water, police’s favourite toys.

  7. Azmi Anuar says

    July 1, 2009 at 1:00 pm

    Police, Police, Please Wherefore Art Thou?

  8. amir says

    July 1, 2009 at 1:14 pm

    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.

  9. Hean says

    July 1, 2009 at 4:12 pm

    Licensed thugs. Umno’s bodyguards. People’s bogey.

  10. Philip Selvaraj says

    July 1, 2009 at 4:30 pm

    Corrupt police necessary for Umno’s survival.

  11. Reza says

    July 1, 2009 at 5:54 pm

    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.

  12. Leithaisor says

    July 1, 2009 at 9:24 pm

    Once well respected, now derided. Sad.

  13. siew eng says

    July 2, 2009 at 9:46 am

    “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.

  14. Naoko says

    July 2, 2009 at 10:58 am

    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.

  15. ahoo says

    July 2, 2009 at 11:23 am

    Police to victims: Prove your innocence.

    Police said, guilty until proven innocent.

    You salah, mau saman atau settle?

  16. anthony says

    July 2, 2009 at 1:26 pm

    Heads I win, tails you lose!

  17. ganesh says

    July 2, 2009 at 2:38 pm

    Never around when you need them.

  18. Mata Duit says

    July 2, 2009 at 5:18 pm

    Paid Officers Licensed In Corrupt Exploitation

  19. Michael Voon says

    July 3, 2009 at 11:55 am

    National security above all human rights.

  20. MarinaM says

    July 3, 2009 at 12:15 pm

    Human rights? Apa tu human rights?

  21. lucia says

    July 3, 2009 at 3:23 pm

    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.

  22. Mly says

    July 3, 2009 at 7:35 pm

    Polis lawan komunis. Komunis pengkhianat negara.

  23. Edward says

    July 3, 2009 at 11:23 pm

    Malaysian mafia in dark blue uniforms.

  24. Eskay says

    July 5, 2009 at 8:40 pm

    Robbers run wild, where’re the cops?

    Men in blue, hiding behind trees.

    So eveready to nab traffic offenders.

  25. cjsavvy says

    July 6, 2009 at 7:48 am

    Licensed gangsters number nine, nine, nine.

  26. David Anthony says

    July 6, 2009 at 10:47 am

    Don’t simply throw your weight around.

    Serve the people, they’re your boss.

  27. reza salleh says

    July 6, 2009 at 3:55 pm

    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.”

  28. MXVoon says

    July 6, 2009 at 5:22 pm

    “Jangan kasi saya. Taruh bawah J-Card.”

  29. wywy says

    July 6, 2009 at 9:21 pm

    RM50 mana cukup? Kita tiga orang!

  30. Jason Sim says

    July 7, 2009 at 1:40 am

    Maaf tuan…Tuan sudah minum kopi?

  31. Sonia says

    July 7, 2009 at 8:56 am

    “Never undermine the Malaysian law enforcers.”

    Was this directed at police themselves?

  32. Obie says

    July 7, 2009 at 11:59 am

    A necessary evil. But unnecessarily evil.

  33. tj wong says

    July 8, 2009 at 3:31 pm

    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.

  34. annej says

    July 8, 2009 at 8:35 pm

    Malaysia – a “lovely” authoritarian police state.

  35. James says

    July 9, 2009 at 2:54 am

    Fear not criminals, police much worse.

    Having police misdeeds, who needs criminals?

  36. nihonboy says

    July 15, 2009 at 1:42 pm

    “tunjuk IC” = craving for coffee

Primary Sidebar

Search

Twitter

My Tweets

Recent Comments

  • Wave33 on The Nut Graph stops publication
  • Adam on The Nut Graph stops publication
  • PSTan on The Nut Graph stops publication
  • PSTan on The Nut Graph stops publication
  • Andre Lai on The Nut Graph stops publication

Recent News

  • The Nut Graph stops publication
  • Nasihat tentang sepupu yang mengganggu perasaan
  • Uncommon Sense with Wong Chin Huat: The Sunni-Shia split and the answer to Muslim unity
  • Why Malaysia needs the national unity bills
  • Challenging government in the digital age: Lessons from Kidex
  • Najib’s failure
  • Babi, anjing, pondan: Jijik orang Islam Malaysia
  • Kidex and the law – What the government’s not telling you
  • Beyond Dyana Sofya
  • Uncommon Sense with Wong Chin Huat: Does Malaysia need hate speech laws?

Tags

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Anwar Ibrahim Barisan Nasional BN Bukit Selambau by-election dap Deborah Loh Ding Jo-Ann Election Commission elections Found in Malaysia Found in Quotation Gan Pei Ling government high court Hishammuddin Hussein ISA islam Jacqueline Ann Surin Khairy Jamaluddin KW Mak Lim Guan Eng Malaysia MCA Menteri Besar MP Watch Muhyiddin Yassin muslim Najib Razak Pakatan Rakyat Parliament Parti Keadilan Rakyat pas Penang Perak PKR police politics prime minister Selangor Shanon Shah Umno Wong Chin Huat Zedeck Siew

Footer

  • About The Nut Graph
  • Who Are We?
  • Our Contributors
  • Past Contributors
  • Guest Contributors
  • Editorial Policy
  • Comments & Columns
  • Copyright Policy
  • Web Accessibility Policy
  • Privacy Policy
The Nut Graph

© 2022 The Nut Graph