THE report of cops frolicking at a station in Kajang came as a shock not only to the public but to the members of the force, both current and former.

What were they thinking of? How long has this been going on? How could the officer in charge (OCS) have allowed and even participated in such activities at a place where the public go to seek help and justice? Were there unseen hands protecting them and were palms greased?

There could be more to it than meets the eye.

Police must have the people’s respect to serve effectively and police stations are sanctuaries of trust for society. The fact that the OCS’s criminal tendencies had not been detected until now by his superiors is worrisome. More so when one realises that he has the command of a station equipped with arms and a small army. That makes him potentially more dangerous than many other criminals. That’s how serious the situation is.

Investigators of the scandal must, apart from looking into the criminal and disciplinary aspects of the case, demand accountability from those who picked the man to helm a station.

How did he reach his rank and position? The act of the OCS and his merry band of frolickers has marred the image of the entire police force.

Signs of deteriorating police discipline have been evident for some time. It reached the zenith when the former IGP Abdul Hamid Bador revealed the existence of a secret cabal within the force who were collaborating with criminal syndicates.

The issue is still pending with no one prosecuted yet in open court. 

Remedies and recommendations to keep the force honest had been mooted way back in 2005 in the royal commission report to enhance the operation and management of the police.

The police leadership did not heed of the urgency of the matter, which has led to serious internal problems pertaining to discipline, command and control. Alarm bells have clearly been ringing and police sirens should have sounded to arrest the deterioration.

The dancing, drinking and alleged consumption of stimulants at the station led by the chief himself must be punished swiftly and firmly with the full force of the law, including the sack for the culprits.

There are really no words to describe the monumental damage done to public trust and confidence in the police.

Nevertheless the police have done well in this case in swiftly apprehending and exposing the criminals masquerading as law enforcers.

A spade has been called a spade and that is the positive element in the shocking affair. The top brass must now take stock of the reality of the problem and refer to the 2005 royal commission report for solutions.

Better late than never. – July 23, 2021.

* 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.