THE final piece of Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s jigsaw puzzle in making the rule of law supreme was put in place with the appointment of Abdul Hamid Bador as the new inspector-general of police.

It was the last piece of the cog in the wheel of justice that completed the new custodians of our criminal justice system. 

This has rejuvenated the general aspirations that Dr Mahathir’s plan to return to the rule of law is on schedule. It has renewed hopes that the reforms promised will in due course be delivered. 

The new chief justice, attorney-general and IGP can now move in tandem to ensure that their roles in the criminal justice system will run transparently and with full accountability. It will no longer be misused as lip service.

Many cases that in the past having gone through the mill, encompassing all the different levels of checks and balances within the criminal justice system, did not deliver justice to aggrieved parties.

Cases of interest such as Teoh Beng Hock, Altantuya Shaariibuu, disappearances of Pastor Raymond Koh, Amri Che Mat and Indira Gandhi’s daughter are still in limbo. The families are seeking judicial recourse till today.

The criminal justice system seems unable to provide the required remedy that will put matters to rest. That has been a telling failure of the justice system in the past. 

The new custodians must ensure that the future of how justice is served becomes effectively swift and exemplary beyond any doubt, providing the necessary remedy to all parties without fear or favour. 

For a while there, it was evident that the new government did not have their finger on the pulse of the reforms required. With our new custodians of the criminal justice system, we seemed to have turned the corner for the better. 

Nevertheless, it would be prudent to comment less on those who were in the corridors of power before and now in court facing charges, as they are innocent until proven guilty in the strictest interpretation of the rule of law.

New Malaysia must now shift their attention to the economy and the rising cost of living that is being felt by every level of society regardless of race, creed, colour or religion.

History has shown that when people thirst for change, they are actually clamouring for a better life. The opulence of their previous leaders become secondary as long as their standards of living do not improve.

This is the basis on how revolutions take place in the history of mankind. In our case, we are fortunate that we have had an evolution that transferred the reins of power peacefully. We may not get a second chance if we fail now.

Police finally have come on board with the IGP now in full support of the Independent Police Complaints Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

I have no doubt that they will rise up to the challenge, as they always have in the past. A new breed of firm, fair and honest officers will emerge slowly if reforms are methodically and systematically implemented.

Being the first limb in the criminal justice system that deals with the public at large, police will spearhead the change in winning back the full trust and confidence of society. – May 11, 2019.

* G. Selva reads The Malaysian Insight.

* 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.