A New Year wish for the police and the rule of law

LETTER | As we usher in another new year coupled with all its celebrations and grandeur, we renew our aspirations for better tidings.

My strongest wish and fervent hope are for the rule of law to become imperatively supreme and not merely lending lip service to it. For that, we need all the arms of the criminal justice system to be firing on all cylinders.

The police, who are at the forefront and the initiating arm of the system, must lead by becoming less influenced by the executive. They must, as with all other enforcement agencies, be able to carry out their responsibilities without fear or favour, and it would be a truly wonderful breath of fresh air if they initiate this paradigm of approach themselves.

Weaning off the executive will be an arduous task as it stands now. However, it has become imperatively crucial for police honour and integrity to do so.

Every application of enforcement, in using their discretion to uphold the law, must be in tandem with the constitution and natural justice. This must be their only persuasive guide in comparison to being too subserviently influenced by the executive, more so in a volatile political landscape such as ours.

The executive, on their part, must realise that a strong and independent police service will ensure political stability and continuity for all. It will effectively prevent any form of abuse of power on all sides of the political spectrum, notwithstanding the fact that it will boost trust and confidence at all levels of society. In doing so, it will inevitably result in winning the hearts and minds of the people. This is worth much more in modern policing and the days to come, in contrast to pleasing the political masters.

For far too long, the executive has had too much political influence over the enforcement agencies in this country. History has shown that the police have been misused many times by ruling politicians in furtherance of their interests.

The key to widening this influence lies in the restructuring of making the police service accountable to parliament with great focus in the process of their top appointments. The executive must no longer wield exclusive power to decide on these appointments.

This must then be complemented by an effective watchdog such as the Independent Police Complaints of Misconduct Commission which will shift police accountability from the executive to the people. Hopefully, all these measures will be put in place soon as there have been too many missteps in the past in ensuring that justice is delivered effectively.

My fervent hope is that the police service becomes more professional in carrying out their duties and responsibilities in the coming days, making the rule of law supreme for the people and the nation in the strictest interpretation given.

Time is always the essence especially with GE15 less than three years away. Hopefully, the new year will usher in a rejuvenated vigour and sincere determination to make all enforcement agencies the bastions for the rule of law to reign supreme by carrying out their duties firmly, fairly and without fear or favour for all Malaysians regardless of religion, colour, creed or race.

Happy new year.