Over the last 10 years or so, the people of Malaysia have become increasingly aware that there has been a drastic transformation of their police force.
What is most apparent has been the change of the police force’s attitude towards them. Traditionally seen as a force that is approachable, trustworthy and dependable, they are now suspiciously viewed as highly intolerant, aggressive and intimidating to its fellow Malaysians.
Whether one knows it or not, this change of attitude is also somehow connected with the transformation in the uniforms worn and the weapons assigned to them by the government of the day. From the cool khakis and batons of yesteryears to the fearsome dark blues and firearms of today, these are clear give-away of the administration’s intent to change the police force to become people unfriendly.
In recent times, there have been far too many incidences of such aggression by the police force towards fellow Malaysians that support this perception. Which lately have included the BERSIH walk. The Penguin walk. The HINDRAF rally. And just recently, the inhumane and unnecessary detention of Anwar Ibrahim and the incessant strong-arm tactics against Raja Petra.
We, Malaysians, wish that the police force would concentrate on combating crimes with similar vigour and might and we believe Malaysia will be a much better place to live! As of now, Malaysians can only visualise darkness for the future.
The question of the week then:
Should the rakyat of Malaysia continue to condone and keep quiet about the administration’s objective of progressively transforming the country into a “police state” as numerously demonstrated by the recent aggressions of the police force time after time?
