MOST of those police veterans who oppose the setting up of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) come from an era where the force was held in high esteem.

They have come through the mill of dignity, honour, regimented discipline and sacrifice. The majority of them have had the experience in knowing colleagues who have lost life and limb in the many battles during the insurgency periods with many having battlefield experience themselves.

It is these personal experiences that make them overprotective of the police force, which spurs them to keep defending the integrity and pride of the uniform they once wore.

They were and still are, prepared in more ways than one, to make the ultimate sacrifice anytime for the nation. These police icons of yesteryear are understandably still locked in a time warp.

Ironically, their own great legacy is at stake as it becomes clear that we need to be cruel to be kind in getting the police back on track.

Time is of urgent essence and the IPCMC is a great necessity in its totality as recommended by the 2006 Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysian Police.

There are two major turning points in the deterioration of the contemporary state affairs in the force that has further lent credence to the recommendations of the commission.

Firstly, was the conviction of two police officers, one being a senior police officer, in the brutal murder of Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu. The fact that motive was never established for their acts leaves a question mark on the police force as it raises questions on the whole structure of  command and control.

Without personal motive the question of whether they were acting on instructions leaves great doubt and an unfair blot on all that is held sacred in the pride of the uniform.

Command and control being the mainstay of arguments put forward by interested parties that it should still be left totally to the inspector-general of police must be complemented with the appropriate mechanisms of accountability to society through the IPCMC.

This murder by these police officers shook society to its core and eroded the trust and confidence of not only the police force at the material time but the whole criminal justice system as a whole. Till today justice has not been seen or felt to be done by those concerned.

Second, was the 1Malaysia Development Bhd debacle in which the police chose to turn a blind eye at the material time although there was a criminal elephant in the room.

The police, in fact, were manipulated to harass Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers who were the only enforcement agency on the right track of this massive scandal at the said time.

Police only got on board to investigate the 1MDB case after the fall of the previous Barisan Nasional government. In fact, the new IGP Abdul Hamid Bador was also one of those victimised during this episode.

It is poetic justice in some ways that he has taken over the reins of the police force.

Now, being at the helm, he must use that invaluable experience to ensure that the police will never be misused or manipulated in any similar manner and will always implement the rule of law without fear or favour.

These two major disappointments go a long way in lending strong credence that the findings of the commission in 2006 were accurate.

There are many other complaints of inept investigations, abuse of power, corruption, etc, which had been dealt in depth by the 2006 commission which further enhances the urgency for the implementation of the IPCMC.

It is my humble opinion and my fervent hope that my former colleagues and commanders of whom I have the highest regard for see the plain truth and situation as it is and the dire need to call a spade a spade. – May 6, 2019.

* G. Selva reads The Malaysian Insight and is a former police officer.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.