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13 January 2016
EXCERPTS FROM:
Malaysiakini
IGP should shift his focus to the force
Stephen Ng
Comment
COMMENT By now, a big stack of cash with four zeroes would have exchanged hands between a few foreigners and a police investigating officer.
In order to secure the release of a couple of their friends who have been arrested, the investigating officer has allegedly demanded the cash to be paid to him directly. The condition set by the police officer was simple – no involvement of any locals.
The foreigners had applied to study in beautiful Malaysia, but upon arrival in Malaysia, they realised that they had been conned by a local agent who preyed on the innocence of these young people and their less-educated parents.
(For the sake of understanding this particular case, youngsters from the more-educated families would end up elsewhere in the West, instead of Malaysia.)
Some families had to fork out thousands of dollars just to send their children overseas to obtain an education, and their children end up on the wrong side of the law.
The agent is currently holding the passports of these young students from an unspecified country kilometres away. When one of the students showed me his passport, it was obvious to me that the visa had been falsified, and my advice was to seek help from the embassy.
On further checks by a friend, the students’ names were never listed in the university offering the business degree, but being students, they have travelled this distance hoping to pursue a degree in business.
Wrong focus
Circumstances have been changed but there is a certain degree of truth in this story – and I am not surprised that this is happening on a daily basis, because I have personally encountered several occasions where foreigners were being harassed by the police for easy money.
…
The ‘daylight robbery’ that I see happening sometimes makes me boil within. I have complained to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Paul Low before this, but the response has been most disappointing.
…
When I read that the inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar promised that in 2016, the force will be carrying out more Internet policing, my question is: Why spend so much time and resources on such matters as the Internet postings on social media, when he should be focusing on improving the integrity of the force?
…
It is not only the foreigners, but even locals can testify that they have had unhappy encounters with the police. In some cases, the ‘runners’ appear to have more access to the police than ordinary citizens, which should not be the case.
…
Arrest the bad cops, strengthen the force
Is Khalid even aware of the rot within the police force all these years? If he is serious about the reputation of the Royal Malaysian Police, to preserve its integrity, I am sure he will be able to get to the bottom of it as a good top cop. He does not need to get the full story from me, as though he is unaware of the rot himself.
…
With the powers within his hands, the IGP can easily set up a large team of people to net the ‘bad cops’ within the force, but so far, how many ‘bad cops’ had been arrested by the police or handed over to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for further investigation on corruption?
…
But, for Khalid, I think a police force that lacks discipline and rotting from within, is a greater threat to social justice, national security and the country’s reputation. That should be his main focus for 2016, instead of going after some young people who are understandably frustrated with what they see in this country.
…
STEPHEN NG is an ordinary citizen with an avid interest in following political developments in the country since 2008.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/326578
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weehingthong 
Stephen Ng, Comment in Malaysiakini: IGP should shift his focus to the force
—
13 January 2016
EXCERPTS FROM:
Malaysiakini
IGP should shift his focus to the force
Stephen Ng
Comment
COMMENT By now, a big stack of cash with four zeroes would have exchanged hands between a few foreigners and a police investigating officer.
In order to secure the release of a couple of their friends who have been arrested, the investigating officer has allegedly demanded the cash to be paid to him directly. The condition set by the police officer was simple – no involvement of any locals.
The foreigners had applied to study in beautiful Malaysia, but upon arrival in Malaysia, they realised that they had been conned by a local agent who preyed on the innocence of these young people and their less-educated parents.
(For the sake of understanding this particular case, youngsters from the more-educated families would end up elsewhere in the West, instead of Malaysia.)
Some families had to fork out thousands of dollars just to send their children overseas to obtain an education, and their children end up on the wrong side of the law.
The agent is currently holding the passports of these young students from an unspecified country kilometres away. When one of the students showed me his passport, it was obvious to me that the visa had been falsified, and my advice was to seek help from the embassy.
On further checks by a friend, the students’ names were never listed in the university offering the business degree, but being students, they have travelled this distance hoping to pursue a degree in business.
Wrong focus
Circumstances have been changed but there is a certain degree of truth in this story – and I am not surprised that this is happening on a daily basis, because I have personally encountered several occasions where foreigners were being harassed by the police for easy money.
…
The ‘daylight robbery’ that I see happening sometimes makes me boil within. I have complained to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Paul Low before this, but the response has been most disappointing.
…
When I read that the inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar promised that in 2016, the force will be carrying out more Internet policing, my question is: Why spend so much time and resources on such matters as the Internet postings on social media, when he should be focusing on improving the integrity of the force?
…
It is not only the foreigners, but even locals can testify that they have had unhappy encounters with the police. In some cases, the ‘runners’ appear to have more access to the police than ordinary citizens, which should not be the case.
…
Arrest the bad cops, strengthen the force
Is Khalid even aware of the rot within the police force all these years? If he is serious about the reputation of the Royal Malaysian Police, to preserve its integrity, I am sure he will be able to get to the bottom of it as a good top cop. He does not need to get the full story from me, as though he is unaware of the rot himself.
…
With the powers within his hands, the IGP can easily set up a large team of people to net the ‘bad cops’ within the force, but so far, how many ‘bad cops’ had been arrested by the police or handed over to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for further investigation on corruption?
…
But, for Khalid, I think a police force that lacks discipline and rotting from within, is a greater threat to social justice, national security and the country’s reputation. That should be his main focus for 2016, instead of going after some young people who are understandably frustrated with what they see in this country.
…
STEPHEN NG is an ordinary citizen with an avid interest in following political developments in the country since 2008.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/326578
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