SHAH ALAM: Members of the police force have been urged to discard unhealthy past practices and traditions.
In making the call, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador reminded the men in blue to adopt practices that are impartial as well as place high integrity in executing their duties and responsibilities.
"We do not want the country's police force to continue practising culture and mindset from the past while serving… we have to be impartial and practice high integrity in executing police duties, regardless of one's rank and position," said the nation's top cop.
He called upon the men from the force's rank and file to break free from the age-old unhealthy traditions within the force so as not to emulate certain western enforcement agencies where the "blue code of silence" still exists.
The blue code of silence, also called blue wall and blue shield, refers to terms used to denote the informal code of silence among police officers not to report on a colleague's errors, misconducts, or crimes, including police brutality.
Hamid was responding to and elaborating on his remarks last week on the existence of a "cartel" of younger officers seeking to bring him down and control the force for its purposes.
He said a small fraction within the force was unhappy with the positive changes he has brought after he was reappointed from his retirement to head the men in blue two years ago.
"We don't want our officers to be stuck in a mindset from the past where wrongdoings of a fellow cop or the unjust treatment of an innocent whistleblower were acceptable.
"I want this police force to have the highest level of integrity and work ethics, so that we are respected as a world-class enforcement agency, on par with the other world-class agencies out there.
"Don't ever think you're untouchable because you're a policeman and can go around using your powers on innocent defenceless public or whistleblowers as you wish.
"Please be reminded that all this is not permanent. This glory and the fear people have of you only lasts so long as you wear this blue uniform.
"No one is going to respect you once it is gone, so take pride in your job," he said.
Hamid was speaking to reporters at the Selangor police headquarters, here, this afternoon.
He said there was a small group of officers, including a few from senior ranks, who have not been carrying out their duties as required.
He said this small group was misusing the police powers invested in them to exploit their lower rank officers and extort money from certain unscrupulous individuals involved in illegal activities, promising protection and privileges.
"There is no such thing as I am so-and-so's men or he is this person's strong man within the force. Everyone is the same and will be treated equally. So far, I believe I have been just in my actions and I make sure that I do not neglect my men's welfare (within the police force)" he said.
Hamid also apologised to Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin for keeping the matter under wraps, as he felt that it was an internal issue and was still under control.
"I also wish to publicly apologise to the minister for not bringing it up with him earlier, because I felt the situation was still manageable internally.
"I have brought up this matter before, sometime back but at that time no one picked it up or played it up like now.
"There's nothing cynical about it, but honestly I am confident I'm able to put a stop to this old school mentality among this small fraction of officers. That's why it was not brought up to the SPP (Police Force Commission) meetings," he said.
Hamid added that some of these police officers in the cartel felt that they were "entitled" and when their requests are turned down, they complain and whine about it.
"This force is not my own... I have a responsibility towards the 32 million population in this country. I have to be just and fair," he said.
Hamid said the negative culture promoted by these quarters have also not excluded him from sharing the blame.
"A few of these bad apples even went to the extent of blaming me. They go around telling people, especially the lower-ranked officers and personnel, that the IGP had asked for the money or favours, creating a sense of fear and obligation them to act and be in cahoots.
"We admit, we are not perfect. But the force should not be used to threaten innocent public or whistleblowers... just because someone blows your cover, you (take) revenge (on) them. That's not the right thing to do," he added.
Hamid said he had assured Hamzah that the matter would be resolved internally.
"It is under control. I will be seeing the minister to brief him when he comes back from Sabah.
" We are taking (it) seriously because I don't want others in the force to be influenced by these officers. We have come a long way now, from a time when cash seized would suddenly go missing or unrecorded to now, where cash is safely recorded as discovered.
"Not a sen (goes) missing," he said, complimenting the level of integrity and honesty among current policemen.