Recent abuses of Chinese nationals while detained by the police have highlighted a lack of compassion by the police and a poor understanding of the law by the police and worse, by government ministers. What followed was a series of blunders by ministers and police officers proving a lack of understanding and consistency of the applicable laws, hostility toward the media and rakyat and a cover up culture within the police.
Rather than acknowledge a problem within the police force, attention was directed at the person who took and distributed the images. This person is a whistle-blower and should be commended. His or her identity should remain confidential. I was disgusted at this response and believe that it is symptomatic of a government that is attempting to gag the media and whistle-blowers. What does this say to tourists and investors who are considering Malaysia as a place to visit or invest ?
In my view, abuse and corruption within the police force has been rife for years but has been kept well away from the media. Although it is an accepted norm to discuss such abuses at dinner parties, it is taboo for Malaysian media to publish anything like this. It takes something 'sensational' like the 70-second video clip to reveal the truth. But here is an opportunity to attempt to clean up the police force. Let the police and government take heed and correct this shameful culture. The police are meant to protect and serve the rakyat. Instead, they speak and act in an intimidating and hostile manner.
There needs to be a drastic change in the culture of the police force and it needs to happen soon. I believe the prime minister's heart and mind is in the right place but I plead with him to be bold and firm in responding to such events. The world is watching Malaysia right now. This country has been and continues to head in the wrong direction, setting it further back from developed countries and undoing the good work of others in the last four decades.
I propose a national independent commission to investigate and publicly report on the alleged widespread abuse and corruption in the police force. The police should not be allowed to investigate itself. This idea seems simply ridiculous.
What is required is a cultural shift within the police force - from one that is corrupt and abusive to one that is fair, firm and compassionate. Undoubtedly this will be difficult to achieve but it needs to start now.