KUALA LUMPUR – An admission by a high-ranking police officer involving standard operating procedures (SOPs) that have led to confusion among enforcement personnel has not gone down well with Malaysians.
In an interview with Mingguan Malaysia, Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department Director Datuk Seri Abd Rahim Jaafar claimed that some 100,000 officers nationwide are still confused or have different interpretations of government SOPs.
He said this has led to a number of compounds being wrongfully issued to individuals who might have not necessarily violated the various movement control order (MCO) rules.
Taking to social media, scores of Malaysians expressed their annoyance and dissatisfaction at having to bear the brunt of what they claim to be weaknesses on the part of the government and enforcement agencies.
Many also asked if the compounds issued by mistake can be rescinded, as it would be unfair to those who were wrongly fined.
“After a year (of Covid-19), even the police are still confused, what more the rakyat. The difference is the rakyat are the ones being compounded,” @abukitol said.
“So, will those issued with unwarranted compounds still need to make payments? Failed communication, and the rakyat suffer,” @haar___r posted.
The government appears to be at the receiving end of most of the criticism by social media users, who are accusing the administration of constantly changing its SOPs.
@amer7211 said the police should not be blamed as they, too, like the public, would have been confused by the constant rolling out of new guidelines.
@wongwongmalek said: “Ministers’ statements are always changing. Today cannot, tomorrow can. Every time there are press conferences, statements keep altering.”
@deebankumar_10 posted: “Who to blame? It’s not the police’s fault. This is the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government’s fault for constantly changing SOPs and not providing proper details. The government has failed. Can’t even implement proper SOPs, how to take care of the rakyat.”
Another user, @SamcoAero, said proper briefings should have been given to enforcement officers before any orders are given out to issue compounds to SOP violators, and not the other way around.
On the other hand, many also slammed the police, saying they could have used common sense and compassion in carrying out their duties, and not just issue compounds if there are uncertainties.
“If the police themselves are uncertain about the SOPs, what more us Malaysians, who are just ordinary citizens. And if unsure, why (issue) summon(s)?” @khairlsul_ asked.
Others blamed the police for practising double standards, noting how certain VIPs are let off the hook for committing offences that would have seen ordinary citizens punished.
Since the implementation of the first MCO last year, there have been various accounts of individuals being issued compounds despite not flouting any SOPs or for committing the smallest of infractions.
Among others, some have been fined for not wearing face masks when there is no one around and for not scanning the MySejahtera app when fuelling, despite not entering the petrol station’s mart or surau. – The Vibes, February 7, 2021
