A MALAY proverb says, “kerana nila setitik, rosak susu sebelanga“ (one rotten apple spoils the whole barrel).

We have heard allegations of police corruption and abuses for decades. In 2009, the government created the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission but failed to ensure police accountability as it is not empowered to prosecute or impose disciplinary actions for misconduct.

Calls were made for the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission, first envisioned 16 years ago. The-then Pakatan Harapan government submitted a proposal but the current Perikatan Nasional government withdrew the bill “because the police objected to it”. For years, allegations of police abuses have gone unresolved.

Suddenly, the inspector-general of police (IGP) dropped a bombshell.

Malaysia has a blue code of silence where when police officers commit an offence, it is swept under the carpet. It not only caused a ripple but a wave when he alleged corruption among senior ranks of the force and knew of former police chiefs using serving officers to do their bidding.

Let us reflect for a moment the dangers such acts would cause. Think of police officers giving false testimonies in the courts, falsifying documents such as arrest reports, warrants. Police are supposed to enforce the law and to preserve order. We now have situation of “Law vs Order of the Police”.

These are illegal offences and could lead to suspension or immediate dismissal but how many have we heard being dismissed? We only hear of officers being transferred. Is it the “brotherhood” within the force?

We have the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 and its importance to combat corruption and other wrongdoings. No wonder there are low number of whistle-blowers as they remain hesitant and this could be a factor.

On the matter of the minister asking the IGP to report to the Police Commission about allegations of mutiny within the police force and a group of younger police officers trying to topple him. Is it necessary?

The minister is the chairman and the IGP is a member of the commission. Is this bureaucratic process similarly practised in other organisations? The chairman could easily convene a meeting to discuss and take necessary actions.

Another worrying trend is there have been plenty of news of political leaders breaching standard operating procedure. We have a former prime minister admitting to not checking-in using his MySejahtera app, a minister investigated for not adhering to the SOP after returning from abroad, a deputy minister on a 55-day holiday in New Zealand when the ordinary people cannot even cross state borders and many more.

It is not okay to ask the authority to issue a fine because you are a lawmaker. You are not showing good examples. Please stop justifying.

We live in a country where lawmakers and those supposed to enforce the law are happily breaking it.

The top leadership must show its political will to stop these rots for they are cancerous.

What say you? – March 26, 2021.

* Saleh Mohammed 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.