For the first time, I feel that there is some glimmer of hope that the campaign for a new Inspector-General of Police to create a safe Malaysia may not be a totally lost cause.
This is the first time in the 52 year history of the nation that there is so much widespread public disaffection at the prospect of an incumbent being given a second extension of his service in a top public post – the second renewal of Tan Sri Musa Hassan as Inspector-General of Police in September.
Many have regarded the Parliamentary Roundtable for a new IGP to create a safe Malaysia in Parliament on Tuesday as a Don Quixote “tilting against the windmill” lost cause – but even if it is a lost cause, it must be fought with every ounce of energy for we are talking about the safety of 27 Malaysian citizens as well as that of tourists and investors so that they can enjoy the two basic human fundamental liberties, to be free from crime and free from the fear of crime.
However, I feel that the tide for a new IGP to create a safe Malaysia may be turning.
Firstly, I feel encouraged that we seem to have at last a Home Minister who has grasped what his first duty should be – to make Malaysia safe again for its citizens, tourists and investors by ensuring that the streets, public places and privacy of homes are safe like in the first three decades of Merdeka!
In the last three days, the Home Ministry website has sought feedback from the public as to whether they feel safe from crime in the country, a recognition that safety of citizens from crime must be the No. 1 job of a Home Minister.
For the past three days, there had been a sustained 97% of those polled who feel unsafe and 95% who hold that their security is not assured, as illustrated from the following results which I had been tracking:
| Feel unsafe | Security not assured | ||
| 23.7.09 | 12 midnight | 96%(866) | 95%(894) |
| 24.7.09 | 7.40 am | 97%(1,187) | 95% (1,119) |
| 2.20 pm | 97%(2,846) | 95% (2,619) | |
| 25.7.09 | 12.30 pm | 97%(4,905) | 95% (4,495) |
| 26.7.09 | 10 am | 97% (6,058) | 95% (5,549) |
There can only be one conclusion from such statistics – an indictment of Musa as IGP in failing to perform the most fundamental duty of the No. 1 Policeman in the country and the need for a new IGP to liberate Malaysians from crime and the fear of crime.
I congratulate the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein for being courageous in seeking public feed back about their views on the crime situation in the country, and Malaysians expect him to support the appointment of a new IGP to restore public confidence in the priority and ability of the Police to create a safe Malaysia.
I will contact Hishammuddin by phone tomorrow to ask whether he is prepared to attend the Parliamentary Roundtable on Tuesday.
The second silver lining is the speech by the Prime Minister’s wife, Datin Rosmah Mansor revealing that snatch theft cases had increased by 99 per cent from January to April this year as compared to the same period last year.
There were 1,206 snatch theft cases reported in the first four months of this year compared to 606 last year. Even the 1,206 statistics is a gross underestimate as the majority of victims in this category of crime do not report to the police, as there is simply no confidence in the police any more.
I commend Rosmah to add her voice to the national cry for action to end the endemic crime, particularly street crime, in the country.
Malaysia must start off on a new page to create a new image for the Malaysian Police force to ensure that it is capable of performing the three core functions to keep crime low, eradicate corruption and protect human rights.
I am prepared to co-operate fully with Hishammuddin to create an efficient, incorruptible, professional world-class police to keep crime low, eradicate corruption and protect human rights but the first step for the Police to start a new page is to have a new IGP to provide new and effective leadership.
This is the purpose of the Parliamentary Roundtable on a new IGP for a safe Malaysia in Parliament on Tuesday at 10 am – to set the Malaysian Police on a new course of direction under a new Prime Minister and a new Home Minister.
I believe that there are enough senior police officers who could take over the position of IGP from Musa – in particular from the ranks of the eight top police officers occupying key police positions below the post of IGP instead of renewing Musa’s tenure of IGP for another two years into 2011.
I hope Barisan Nasional MPs will rise above party differences to attend the Parliamentary Roundtable on a new IGP to create a safe Malaysia, to demonstrate to the Police and the Malaysian public that MPs, whether Pakatan Rakyat or Barisan Nasional, stand on a common platform to work for the safety of ordinary Malaysians.
Because of the shortness of time, it may not be able to send them individual invitation to the Parliamentary Roundtable. Let this statement serve as another Open Invitation to all MPs, whether Pakatan Rakyat or Barisan Nasional, or well as to all concerned professional organisations, NGOs, civic bodies and stakeholders concerned about a new IGP for a safe Malaysia to attend.
Off topic but most intriguing: How umno won in Putrajaya
http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/24792/84/
The Putrajaya constituency is 100% civil servants and 95% Malay. And they all live in government quarters, homes they do not own, at the grace of the government. Abdul Rahman knew this and he knew this would be the trump card Adnan could use against the Putrajaya voters. And he did.
Adnan met the civil servants face-to-face in their offices, though this was not allowed, and told them in very clear terms that they risk being kicked out of their government quarters if they voted for the opposition.
The voters were also told that their votes could be detected. All the ballot papers are numbered. The voters too have serial numbers. Once the ballot paper is torn from the book, the voter’s serial number is recorded on the counterfoil that has corresponding numbers to the ballot papers.
All they have to do is to check the ballot papers of the opposition votes and match its serial number against that on the counterfoil to know who voted for the opposition. When the voter goes into the polling station, his serial number is shouted out for all to hear and everyone in the room records it.
Mr LKS …let’s see who from BN has the gall to attend the round table session for the sake of the Naiton. This will be a joke to see who from BN turns up.
It is very obvious that Malaysia needs a new effective IGP to fight crimes, eradicate corruption, and uphold human rights. The old one should have retired earlier, to give way for others to perform this important task!
Long before many ancestors do not know that are people call oorang asli who live here long before any other Malaysian races.
In correct term, here this land West Malaysia should called ‘TANAH ASLI’.
‘TANAH ASLI’
Mr IGP, 97% says you have fail!
Home Affairs conducting survey and Datin Rosmah highlighted increased crimes. Hmmmm, may be they themselves have set the stage to remove the present IGP. Can’t be sure of course.
Kit,
Please get Ong Tee Keat to attend the Parliamentary Roundtable for a new IGP. He has been worrying so much for himself lately; now is the time for him to worry for the safety of the rakyat. This is for him to prove that he is not a selfish person who only looks after his own welfare.
The problem with Tan Sri Musa Hassan is that he has rhinoceros skin. He should have rejected an extension (not to mention resigned automatically before his term is up) when he realized that he is not up to the job. Why let a whole nation suffer because of one monkey? I do know of some doctors who recommend another doctor when they know that they have insufficient skill to treat a patient. After all, not all doctors are equally skilful, even within the same area of expertise. But truth be told, the one who extended his service is also another monkey. He doesn’t seem to know what is the actual problem. You don’t need brains to extend someone’s service. But to pick the right person to carry out the job requires brains and is the mark of true leadership.
Will the IGP be enough? Look at the foot soldiers, end of the month? Set up a so called road block and then ask “Encik sudah makan kah? Saya belum minim la.” Hahahahahaaa …
Are we hoping against hope?
I believe that there are enough senior police officers who could take over the position of IGP from Musa – in particular from the ranks of the eight top police officers occupying key police positions below the post of IGP instead of renewing Musa’s tenure of IGP for another two years into 2011. – LKS
But Musa knew too many dirty secrets, they are partners in crime, how are you going to replace that?
Then what did you do? You gave right, since you just beat the red light. That is who you are.
I positively guess that Najib will replace Musa Hassan with another Top Police Officer for the Post of IGP upon the expiry of Musa Hassan’s employment contract. Musa Hassan is Dr. Mahathir’s legacy. There is no point for Najib to continue living in the dark shadow of Dr. Mahathir. To decide not to reappoint Musa Hassan will be the first step for Najib to start off a new image building project in the Police Force. Perhaps without Musa Hassan, the voters will tend to forget the assault case on Anwar by former IGP Rahim Nor and Altantuya murder case much easier because Musa was the police officer who got directly or indirectly involved in these two cases which haunted Umno too often.
Yawn … a forum/blog for people to just chat about politics is really being trashed. I wonder what LKS will do about it? Hmmmm …
Speaking of the online survey results on safety in our homes and on our streets. If the survey result could be tied to performance of the police, and therefore the igp, I would interprete them thus:
97% thumbed down. Given that sort of margin there is no point asking whether our police and igp have passed in their tasks. 97% dissatisfaction means they have failed. The question here to what extent they have failed? Again with 97% voicing their unhappiness over the state of security in our country, I think it would be wrong to treat the police and the igp as having merely failed with a F on the score card. I think it is way way below a F. On a 0-100 score, I feel that 97% dissatisfaction is a reflection that the police’s and the igp’s performance would be closer to the 0 mark, or perhaps a couple of points off the 0 mark. They are that bad in the minds of the people. And how could things go so wrong? Because the police and the igp has protection of politicians esp the umno politicians. And it is common knowledge why umno protects them.