Yesterday, when commenting on the series of “Fight Rising Crime” public hearings of the Parliamentary Caucus on Human Rights and Good Governance, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Najib Abd Aziz said that the public must understand that the police cannot solve crimes on their own as cases involve members of the public themselves.
He said public co-operation was sometimes disappointing with many people preferring to “look the other way”.
Najib is right when he said that policing cannot be left to the police alone but must be a multi-faceted task by all relevant agencies and involve the co-operation of all stakeholders, in particular members of the public.
True, the maintenance of law-and-order and a low-crime society is not just a police problem but requires a holistic approach involving socio-economic, educational and even religious factors and problems such as migrant population, illegal immigrants and the drug menace.
However, the police must bear the greatest responsibility for effective policing because of their specific mission.
The police must undergo a paradigm shift from “Policing for Government” to “Policing for People” and accept public perceptions as of paramount importance in the evaluation of police performance in fighting crime and the fear of crime.
The first thing the Malaysian police must do is to come out of their denial syndrome claiming that law and order is under control and take full cognizance of pubic perceptions that the crime situation in the country, particularly in many black areas of crime, have gone from bad to worse.
At the first public hearing of the Parliamentary Caucus on Human Rights and Good Governance in Johor Baru on Sunday, the over-capacity crowd of over 600 people were asked three questions:
- Whether they were satisfied with the police actions and measures which had been taken over the past month in Johor Baru as a result of the public outcry over a spate of brutal robbery-abduction-gang rape crimes;
- Whether they agreed with the Police that the crime situation in JB had been brought under control; and
- Whether they agreed with the Police that JB had become a safe city.
Not a hand went up for the “yes” vote for all three instances, as there was an unanimous show of hands to give a thunderous “no” to all three propositions — i.e. not satisfied with what the Police had done in JB in the past month despite stepped-up police activities, did not agree that the crime situation had been brought under control and did not agree that JB had become a safe city to the residents, visitors and investors.
The police may not like or agree with the three answers, but they must accept that it is the people in any area which must have the final say whether the crime situation is under control and has become safe – and they must go back to the drawing board to revise their policing strategy taking into account public perceptions which disagree with police conclusions.
The first series of “Fight Rising Crime” public hearings of the Parliamentary Caucus of Human Rights and Good Governance is not a police-bashing exercise but meant to help the police to fully understand public perceptions about the law-and-order, crime and fear of crime situation in different hot-spots of crime in the country.
The first Parliamentary Caucus hearing in JB has given a clear verdict that the situation of crime and fear of crime in JB remains very grave and critical, and this must be taken fully into account by the police authorities.
The second public hearing of “Fight Rising Crime” of the Parliamentary Caucus of Human Rights and Good Governance, which will be held at the Petaling Jaya Civics Centre tomorrow (Wednesday, 11th July 2007 at 8.30 pm), will provide an opportunity for the police to understand the perceptions of the people with regard to crime and the fear of crime situation in the Klang Valley, particularly Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya and Klang.
#1 by kleptocrats on Tuesday, 10 July 2007 - 4:46 pm
They should also shift away from “policing for themselves” too. Many join the force not to serve and protect. They join so they can earn some easy money on the streets ‘extorting’ from the public they sworn to protect.
#2 by Libra2 on Tuesday, 10 July 2007 - 5:07 pm
Why should I will not volunteer information to the police
1. I know they won’t do anything about it nor solve the case.
2. They might come after me and put my life in danger, more so if a VIP is the subject of my information. or they could just detain you in the lock up for 24 hours or longer at their will.
3. I JUST DON’T TRUST THEM. They can blow up people, you know!
#3 by Libra2 on Tuesday, 10 July 2007 - 5:08 pm
The first line in the above post should read , ” Why I will not volunteer information to the police.”
#4 by WFH on Tuesday, 10 July 2007 - 7:06 pm
The question begging to be asked – Is the PDRM ready, able, willing to work that hard and as hard as is necesssary, to switch their mindset of looking at the public as a nuisance to looking at, and treating, the public as their bosses?
They dont have the stomach for hard work in this direction, in my view.
Of course they do have the stomach to work hard as long as that work is directed towards the support of their political masters. All for self-preservation, of course. After all, it’s payback-loyalty time for the hugely disproportionate gaji naik just implemented.
#5 by hermes on Tuesday, 10 July 2007 - 7:12 pm
One of the reasons why the public do not provide information to the police is that the public do not trust the police.
They see the police are selective in the investigation of cases and selective when the they take no action against UMNO members, despite reports made against them.
They see the police as partisan when doing their duties, especially, when there is a political element in it, such as public meets, ceremahs and public protests. The percieve that the police do not act fairly or independently.
It is no good for the police to blame the public. The police must work to gain the trust, confidence and respect of the public. They cannot demand public assistance when the public feel that they are regularly victimised by the police, especially, when they do not haace the backing of UMNO.
Trust begats trust. Respect must be earned. Independence by the police must be seen. public confidence must be restored. Let the police show they have learnt these lessons, then the public will treat them as friends to be trusted.
#6 by hermes on Tuesday, 10 July 2007 - 7:30 pm
Why should the public volunteer information to the police. They do not trust the police. They see the police as a political tool of the government to control the public. The actions of the police have caused the public to have this perception
They see the police as selective in their investigations. They see the police as partisan when reports are made against UMNO bigwigs. They see the police as partisan against the whistleblower rather than the wrongdoer.
They see the police as partisan and acting as an instrument of the UMNO government whenever there is a political meeting, cemerah or public protests.
They see the police as not acting fairly or independently but rather as tools of UMNO.
Until the police learn the lesson of acting independently without fear or favour the public will not trust the police.
Trust begets trust. Independence must be seen by the public. Fairness must be evidenced by action. Confidence must built and restored to the satisfaction of the public. Respect must be earned not demanded. Prompt action must be the watch word of the police. Until the police learn these lessons they can whistle in the wind for help from the public.
#7 by House Victim on Tuesday, 10 July 2007 - 7:36 pm
CREDIBILITY is the key words!
PERFORMANCE are to be accounted for!
TRANSPARENCY is the Way!
CODE of PRACTICE is the Standard!
PUBLICITY of Rights & Obligations and to be respected should bring Parties together, to Share, to Join, for a mutual Target – We are Living in the same Society to be Share, Cherished!
ETHICS is Fundamental for any professional or Disciplinary Force!
PEACE to be promoted, VIOLATION should be punished, to be labeled and be isolated, if possible.
The RANKS should be taken as the Weight of Responsibility and NOT a POWER to take a ride on another others.
AFTER WE ARE ALL HUMAN BEING – to be with wisdom to harmony and improve!!
The situation is BAD and it cannot be Denied!
Now, the Police wants co-operation from Citizens, please provide the necessary declaration and enforcement of Rules & Regulations how volunteers will be protected by the respective Authorities!!
I can see Why Volunteer is practically useless! A big scandal in Subang Ria Park with all the Screaming of Violations by Assemblyman, MPSJ, their Runners, State Officers to promote a Nonsense “Objection” which can be used as a formality for their Decision, has ended up with WHAT?? Had any Government office, Politician, Lawyers, came to help???
A COUNTRY WITHOUT THE SOUL OF RIGHT OR WRONG, OR EVEN SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY, FLOODING WITH ABUSES??
Crime can also be scaring without VIOLENCE & Dead Silent!!
Are we in a Society or a Jungle to fight on our own??
Should We?? Can We?? Or, Shall We??
#8 by hermes on Tuesday, 10 July 2007 - 7:36 pm
The quick answer for the police to gain the trust of the pulic is to ask:
How can the police be seen as a trusted friend and helper, without taking sides, of the public?
If they can achieve they may get some results and information from the public.
#9 by smeagroo on Tuesday, 10 July 2007 - 10:31 pm
Just privatise the police force!
#10 by dawsheng on Tuesday, 10 July 2007 - 11:19 pm
“Tan Sri Mohd Najib Abd Aziz said that the public must understand that the police cannot solve crimes on their own as cases involve members of the public themselves.”
Gosh! What hope do we have for the situation to improve? Just sit and wait for the next disaster. Let’s pray for our own safety, remember there are no police in Malaysia.
#11 by pwcheng on Wednesday, 11 July 2007 - 12:40 am
Well UMNO always have a quick remedy to cure the malaise of the government servants. The public is always the cause, whether directly or indirectly. This is not the first time and neither it will be the last we had heard about this. They always want an easy way out.
#12 by takazawa on Wednesday, 11 July 2007 - 1:52 am
Now what we see is a corrupt organization such as the PDRM (Polis Di-rasuah Malaysia) which can only tango with a corrupt ruling party like UMNO. They are in the same boat, same plane, same species, and have the same DNA with similar behaviour. They need to each other to scratch their back (if not backside).
Instead of privatizing the police force, why not outsource the entire police force to an island city which has an efficient, effective and uncorrupted police force? This would be even better than setting up the IPCMC as UMNO would still be the one holding the reins somehow.
#13 by takazawa on Wednesday, 11 July 2007 - 2:34 am
The men in blue should get their priorities right – They owe their duty obligation to the Rakyat which mostly consist of taxpayers, the weak and defenseless, the Bangsa, the Culture, and the Nation as a whole, and not to:
1. themselves.
2. those datuks, dato’s, tan seri’s, tuns, and the high and mighty who want the best protection that money can buy. That includes relatives and controllers of the police,
3. those who can pay (or axward) the best rewards within the ruling party,
4. The rest of the ruling party,
5. those thugs who are willing to buy themselves out from serious crimes, and the list goes on…
By the way, what baffles me now is who elected the IGP? The election should be in the hands of the Rakyat. Not the PM, cabinet, or their advisers & cronies who are significantly well-known to be corrupt & grossly biased without any credibilities and integrity.
#14 by khoyamliang on Wednesday, 11 July 2007 - 3:12 am
Instead of privatizing the police force, why not outsource the entire police force to an island city which has an efficient, effective and uncorrupted police force? ~ takazawa
Well Sdr Takazawa, do you think that Umno will ever allow this? After all Singapore is a bigger devil than Malaysia’s own opposition parties, for the simple reason that Malay Singaporeans, under meritocratic and multi-racial PAP, are far better paid, better educated, more competitive, more confident, self-reliant and able to take on the world, than Malay Malaysians under NEP, apartheid Umno.
The bigger irony is that Singapore is able to achieve this for it believes in a multi-racial, meritocratic Singapore rather than a Chinese-dominated and Chinese-only Singapore. With only 660 squared kilometers in size (a red dot) and ZERO natural resources, its GDP is as big as Malaysia’s (with 13 states and 25 million population).
That’s why corrupt Umno has almost nothing to show but corrupt institutions, like the police force(Polis Di-Rasuah Malaysia). And in order to hide its shortcomings and complete mismanagement of the country, it has to cling on to NEP, ketuanan Melayu, Malay agenda, narrow-minded racism, and brain-washing of Malays, to hold on to political power!!!
#15 by takazawa on Wednesday, 11 July 2007 - 2:08 pm
Well, whether UMNO will allow this or not is beside the point. I know, as long as UMNO runs the show, or rather as long as 92% of the voters still allow UMNO to do, nothing can be possible.
My point is what would the ideal for our crime busting mission be (note: it may not be outsourcing to sg). It’s just a hypothetical suggestion which does not necessarily have to be pragmatic. Whether the plan would succeed or not, no one knows.
More importantly is whatever noble idea which we want to put forth, we do not have to constantly subject ourselves under the hegemony of UMNO. As in the Lina Joy’s case, do you think UMNO will allow her to officially convert out of Islam? If not, why bother fighting for it? Well, impossible it may seem, it’s a struggle for all of us in shaping a better Malaysia.