PETALING JAYA – The public has welcomed the warning by Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain to weed out corrupt cops.
Shuhaily recently reprimanded officers under his charge after he was notified that some may be in cahoots with individuals linked to the underworld.
Speaking at a closed-door policing conference at Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang recently with CID officers throughout the country, Shuhaily claimed that some officers were willing to put the lives of their comrades in danger by collaborating with syndicates.
“Having a clean police force is vital for the country and for the people’s wellbeing.
“Many have heard stories about the police and I am sure a large number of Malaysians know the term ‘duit kopi’.
“Duit kopi has become a norm in our culture and is surely destroying the nation,” said Norman Tan, a researcher with a public university here.
Tan, 28, said police play a key role in maintaining peace and order in the country and being free of corruption is crucial in ensuring they are able to effectively carry out their duties.
He said corruption had become so entrenched in some quarters of society and needed an all-out concerted effort to eradicate.
“I personally believe it would be impossible to weed out corruption from our society, but at least we could work together to reduce it.
“Living beyond one’s means has become a way of life for many Malaysians and to maintain this kind of lifestyle, some resort to illegal means to make money, which is also through corruption,” said Ibrahim Sidek, a civil servant from Putrajaya.
Ibrahim, 46, said enforcement bodies like the police should be a welcome and reassuring sight for the public and not someone to fear.
“I think this is because of the impression the public has of them. There are so many stories about ‘duit kopi’ to such an extent that many do not want to deal with certain authorities at all,” he said.
Rahmah Ghazali said it was unfair to label all the apples as rotten just because there were a few rotten ones in the basket.
“To me personally, I feel it takes two hands to clap. When the supply stops, so will the demand. We have to weed the corruption culture out of society. Otherwise, it will continue,” she said.
Rahmah, 58, a retired teacher, said she had personally encountered some good, honest policemen.
“There was a time my house was broken into and the policemen who assisted me were very good. They were very professional and helpful.
“That is why I believe we cannot brand the entire force just because of a few bad ones,” she said.
Robinson Andrews, a software engineer from Bangsar, said to stop corrupt practices in any organisation, it was important to go after the head and not just the tail.
“What is the point of going after the sardines when the sharks are still roaming free?
“Once you get rid of the sharks, the sardines will run for cover. This is what needs to be done.
“It is encouraging to have someone like Mohd Shuhaily, but he cannot catch the sharks alone,” he said.
Andrews, 53, said he had encountered both good cops and bad ones.
“For some, there is no hanky-panky at all and they are very firm in carrying out their duties.
“However, there are those who you know are dishonest and would rather ‘settle’ the violation with you than issue a summons,” he added.
Overall, most of those who spoke to The Vibes welcomed the statement by the CID director but feel it is an uphill task which requires everyone’s commitment. – The Vibes, October 10, 2023
