IT is heartening to note that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) director has plans to beef up the integrity of his division by making asset declarations compulsory.  

This is an old and arduous task undertaken by many of his predecessors, yet more can be done.  

The emphasis should be on getting the police ready to serve and in complete adherence to their roles and functions as stipulated in the Police Act.  

They must focus on being professional in adhering completely to the rule of law in the strictest interpretation allowed without being influenced by sociopolitical factors. 

There have been a few high-profile cases in recent times that have shaken the public’s confidence in the men in blue to the core. 

Professionalism, humility, and courtesy must go together with enforcing the law. Personnel must never take the law into their own hands, and must show honesty, competence, and the right attitude, especially by those in command.  

People with short fuses among the men in blue are not uncommon and require constant supervision to ensure an appropriate amount of force, based upon the minimum force paradigm, is applied at the right time and place. Leadership by example is imperative. 

There is also the explosive allegation made by the former IGP Hamid Bador that there is a cartel of police officers who are in cahoots with criminals, and they are responsible in sabotaging his efforts to fight crime and corruption. 

The CID director himself and the deputy IGP have said they too face the same kind of threats from within.  

Identifying and weeding out the wolves in sheep clothing should be prioritised as they are many times more dangerous than criminals. 

The top echelon should follow the recommendations made in the findings of the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of The Royal Malaysia Police in 2005 as the best guide to facing challenges within the force. – December 18, 2023. 

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.