Friday, July 11, 2008

CORRUPTION IN THE POLICE FORCE - AN EMBEDDED CULTURE

The news headlines on Staronline, Friday 11 July reads " Cops vs Cops in Gemas station" and the report says " a policeman has lodged a report against all his colleagues including his superior over dissatisfaction on how the monthly bribes from those operating illegal activities was being distributed".

Gosh...what am I reading? This sounds like a third world country report, or are we still a third world country, lavishing in top class facilities? I thought the police has sorted out the bad hats, and with the anti corruption slogan pinned on their uniforms and plasted on their vehicles, gave me the impression that corruption in the force is long past. Sadly,this is not so, and I now begin to wonder, whether the practise of collecting bribes and distributing the haul among fellow policeman is common business in all stations (large and small)?

This is indeed a serious allegation and should this be true, I think the IGP (who is himself being investigated by the ACA for fabrication of evidence) will have a monumental task of cleansing the force. This reminds me of a statement made by Tun Haniff (former IGP) sometime ago, when he said that a large number of officers and the lower ranks in the force are corrupt, and this was never disputed by the leadership than.

I believe that corruption in the force is already an embedded culture; hence it cannot be eradicated at the wink of an eye. This culture must cease at the top first, with only those with a 'sparkling clean slate' be given promotion to top positions. Those found to be 'unclean' has to be weeded out, setting an example for others to see, including the lower ranks.

As an Malay and a Muslims, we are taught that corruption is sinful, and to feed one's family with ill gotten wealth is even more sinful. Yet, we still hear of corruption in the force which are predominantly Malays, and honestly, I am thoroughly shameful.

My only advise to the IGP (if I am allowed to do so) is to immerse your officers and men in deep and serious religious indoctrination. Your father is an example of a god fearing person, and you should go to him for guidance.

3 comments:

captazhar said...

Corruption has become a culture embedded into our society over years of neglect. The concept of right and wrong has been never really been taught but instead the wrongs have continuously been justified while rights been compromised.

Just a simple example that can be observed in our everyday lives, in our numerous supermarkets and hypermarkets. The stealing (curi makan) of the displayed fruit; I have even observed a family of 3 generations standing there picking, eating and enjoying the fruits totally oblivious of the people in their surroundings. And this kind of action cuts across all racial divides, a totally muhibbah kind of activity.

Having travel around Asia quite extensively, I dare say that such blatant act of stealing in the supermarkets can only be done openly in Malaysia. What kind of examples are our elders showing their children nowadays? That is is OK to steal because everyone else is doing it? That if you do not jump on that bandwagon, then you will rugi?

Simple sloganeering cannot change something that has long remained a common practice but sadly, that all the effort that our authorities are taking to nowadays.

Mohd Arshad Raji said...

captazhar,

I no longer trust society to set examples to our children and grandchildren good societal values of what is wrong and what is right. Schools are suppose to do this, but obviously, this is not so.

It therefore leaves us with no other option, but to teach the values to our children/grandchildren ourselves.

From my personal experience, the values that my parents has taught me through my observation of them, remains embedded in me till this very day.

maurice said...

The principle of right and wrong is already there in our society through our religious teachings, national education doctrines and programmes/activities connected to nation-building.What is lacking is the practice of these principles in our everyday life by individuals and collective family units.

We need strong enforcement actions to ensure these principles are firmly embedded at society level on a case by case basis.For example, the new power given to BPR to prosecute without prior reference to AG and the protection given to whistle blowers will go along way in reducing corruption in our country.Over decades, a free- corruption society will be the embedded value.

On another matter, about the cleanliness of our surrounding, the Ministry of Education and Municipal Councils must have the political will to implement strong enforcement meaures to punish culprits who litter schools' and public places. The number of used plastic cups and bags littered outside school compounds these suggest a lack of supervision and enforcement by teachers in implementing the concept of cleanliness among students.

Equally disturbing rubbish piles, dirty sidewalks and dirty streets in townships under the jurisdiction of MPAJ are common everyday sight.MPAJ must have the political will to punish hawkers, traders, pasar malam/tani hawkers and shop owners who does not keep their surrounding clean.If this is done it will go along way in embedding the principle of public cleanliness in our society.

The principle of right and wrong need strong enforcement measures in order to be it successful in our society.It has to be done on an incremental basis, on a case by case basis.