Retired officers defend Hari Raya open house as ‘tradition’

Kalidevi Mogan Kumarappa Kalidevi Mogan Kumarappa Updated 6 years ago · Published on 9 Jun 2019 10:55AM · 10 Comments

Former senior police officers have praised IGP Abdul Hamid Bador’s (centre) stance on illicit police ‘fund raising’ for Hari Raya but say that open house remains a vital part of community relations. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, June 9, 2019.

RETIRED senior police officers have welcomed the instruction by Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador for officers to stop soliciting funds for Hari Raya celebrations but have said that a blanket ban would put an end to the open house custom.

Former Selangor deputy chief of police Mohd Fuad Abd Latiff said the police hosted Hari Raya open houses because they are part of the country’s culture.

“Even the prime minister hosts an open house,” he said.

For the police, however, they have no funds allocated for such events and so private sector companies may step forward to sponsor a celebration.

“When Bukit Aman, a contingent or district plans an open house event, many companies come forward to assist in terms of food or financial contributions.

“There are also some contributors who help organise the open house, but PDRM is strictly forbidden from receiving assistance if the source is illegal, that is proceeds from crime,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Fuad said open houses were important for the police to get to know the community.

Meanwhile, corporations would contribute as a way to thank the police for their service, he added.

He denied that such contributions had also come from triads or organised crime entities, because police officers knew that to accept such contributions would be a crime.

“All my officers hate corruption and have rejected such offers or gifts to them in the past,” he said.

On June 3, Hamid called for an end to the “disgusting” practice by police officers, including heads at district level, of collecting Hari Raya funds from the public.

Fuad said the IGP’s order was laudable, but added that if police rejected all contributions, they would not be able to host any open house events.

“You cannot expect officers and men to use their own money for organising these events,” he said.

Retired Senior Police Officers’ Association (RESPA) committee member Meor Chek Hussien, said the PDRM leadership had never issued fundraising directives.

“It usually comes from its officers (in a district) and the invitation is extended to the surrounding community in order to strengthen bonds between the PDRM and the community.

“There is probably a company that wants to donate to the open house event as a token of appreciation for PDRM’s services to the general public,” he said.

Meor, who is also former Kuala Lumpur chief of police, welcomed Hamid’s directive to stop collections.

“It is a good approach to prevent public misunderstanding.”

Meanwhile, Transparency International Malaysia president Dr Muhammad Mohan said PDRM should adhere to IGP’s wishes, thus raising the force’s credibility in the eyes of the public.

“Police work is seen as an honourable career in the UK, with many people excited to join. However, here, many parents are reluctant to even let their children join the police,” he said, noting the public perception of police corruption.

Muhammad said it was difficult for companies or the public not to donate any funds when asked by a police official.

“However, they will also expect some returns from the officer. They might hope that legal action would not be taken against them if they flout the law,” he said.

Centre to Combat Cronyism and Corruption (C4) executive director Cynthia Gabriel said Hamid exposed a major source of corruption within the police force.

She said it was an open secret that such fundraising was not usually for hosting any event but was for personal spending on Hari Raya.

“Anyone involved in such practice should be punished by taking disciplinary action or suspended from work,” she said. – June 9, 2019.

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Comments

  • Who created this unwanted and corrupted culture? BN and its allies in governing the country for the last 62 years have gone overboard to please the voters and now it is said to be a culture. How much money time and working hours being wasted one month before Raya and one month after Raya? The country starts moving slow during these 2 unproductive months. It should be abolished completely at all ministries to save time and productivity. Look at the people and their body mass weight which is disastrous and before they reach 50, they are already sick and further waste time with these police and other civil servants because they are so obese and find hardly time to move about. It's a very good idea to stop all these 'open house buka puasa and after raya Raya open house. Where do they get the money to spend so much? Let the new Malaysia start the ball rolling?

    Posted 6 years ago by Swaminaidu Venkatasamy · Reply

  • PDRM should undergo a massive image change to work with the rakyat
    One way is to have festival open house with the residents in their respective areas with voluntary contributions from the residents

    Posted 6 years ago by S L · Reply

  • This Fuad feller is depicting his corrupted thoughts. In the eyes of public any donations in the guise of goodwill are always with ill intention. So stop using the event to bull shit about fostering community goodwill . Bull craps!!!. Apart from the donation for that event there are other excess for the "friendship" with PDRM. Good of Hamid Bador to insist that this undesirable practises is stopped immediately. No money no celebration or less in smaller scale.

    Posted 6 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Every police station administration should keep aside RM100 to RM200 a month for Hari Raya celebrations. BY Hari Raya day they would have saved RM1200 to Rm2400 which is plenty to have a Hari Raya kenduri for the policemen and their families. Some of the family members can make a dish and bring along. No need to collect funds from outside as its open to possible corruption.

    Posted 6 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • Next a nincompoop will say corruption is our culture. Idiot !!!!

    Posted 6 years ago by Sabah One · Reply

  • Next a nincompoop will say corruption is our culture. Idiot !!!!

    Posted 6 years ago by Sabah One · Reply

  • Nobody asked you goons to organize these open house events - you ought to be on duty at all times - not enjoying extended open houses and celebrations long after the official 2 day holiday.

    Posted 6 years ago by The Rover · Reply

  • During British days, it was a common sight to see all Police stations fences decorated with oil lamps from the 27th of Ramdan onwards. Since having community Hari Raya gathering sponsored by DBKL started, PDRM too ventured into having their own Hari Raya events. Now we find many GLCs having their own Hari Raya gatherings. The one done by Telecolms Malaysia used to be very lavish.

    Posted 6 years ago by Citizen Pencen · Reply

  • Not only for the Polis all Government Departments, GLCs Companys or they do it within themselves.

    Posted 6 years ago by Danial Abdullah · Reply

  • This is a good example of where the culture has gone downhill. Open houses are meant to be for friendship and people would serve some cookies or tea coffee for anyone visiting. Today, it has deteriorated to expect a full meal at any open house. There seems to be no focus on the camaraderie and focus only on spending. Those that cannot afford it take money from others to organise and host open houses shamelessly. It is time for the rot to be reversed if the countrys culture and tradition is to be maintained as a respectable culture we can be proud of. And for the comment that the prime minister also hosts open houses, we have seen that what the prime minister does is not necessary what you should do as in 1 MDB !!

    Posted 6 years ago by Beng Choon Lim · Reply