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Speech by The Honourable Tan Sri Musa Bin Dato’ Haji Hassan,
Inspector General of Police, Royal Malaysia Police on the occasion of the 14th
Malaysian Law Conference on the 30th October 2007 @ 1.30pm at the Kuala Lumpur
Convention Centre.
The Honourable
Ms Ambiga Sreenevasan
Malaysian Bar President
Mr. Roger Tan
Chairman of the Organizing Committee
Distinguished Guest, Members of the Media, Ladies and Gentlemen
Assalamualaikum warahmutullah hiwabarakatuh and a very pleasant afternoon,
It is my pleasure to be here with you this afternoon at the 14th Malaysia Law
Conference held in this August Hall in the KL Convention Centre. This Conference
provides for a platform and opportunity for various quarters, agencies and
stakeholders to come together in spirit of professional inquiry and exchange. On
behalf of the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), I would like to take this opportunity
to welcome all of the participants of the 14th Malaysian Law Conference present
here today.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am deeply honoured in being asked to give a talk to this esteemed gathering on
the topic of “200 years of Policing and 50 years of Independence: The Royal
Malaysia Police experience – The Way Forward”. I would like to thank the
organising committee and would like to commend them for the initiative and good
work that has brought us all together this afternoon. It reflects positively on
the spirit of collaboration that has enabled us to make good progress in
relation to issues pertaining to socio-legal and security matters.
It is a rightly timed event as the nation has just celebrated its golden age
birth and history, and which in turn invites interest from various nation and
international organisations.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our golden age anniversary with its multiracial citizens has indeed come a long
way in its struggle for independence and it was only achieved through those
gallant men & women who with indomitable courage and fortitude faced fearful
odds, made huge personal sacrifices and endured tremendous hardships to achieve
this vision. To be given freedom without bloodshed is a far greater achievement
than with the spilling of blood over the flag of independence. A strong and
highly centralized top Federal Malayan Police has definitely had its share in
this.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Since the inception of modern policing in Malaya on the 25th March 1807, when
the ‘Charter of Justice’ was granted to the British Colonisers, the RMP remains
unchanged, i.e. to maintain law & order and which will in turn ensure peace and
harmony in the country. However, with the changing situation and ever increasing
demands of society, the dimension of this kind of peace and harmony has also
changed from that of a simple and straightforward maintenance of peace into a
complex and sophisticated one. This is due to the increasing awareness and
demands of society largely brought about by the dynamism of economic development
and ever increasing awareness particularly of human rights by the society. Thus,
the need arises for the RMP to change its approach from a traditional policing
viewpoint to that of a professional policing methodology. However, its
philosophy has to remain unchanged, intact and relevant, i.e. ready to serve.
In line with the goal to be a fully developed nation by the year 2020, the RMP
is entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring law and order in this country
and we place great importance on the effectiveness of law enforcement within the
context of our criminal justice system. This is the core business of the
organization and the success of the RMP in meeting its goals and objectives will
invariably determine the sort of indicators as to what kind of future our
country is treading on, vis-à-vis security.
The question of what were the challenges faced by the police before today, and
in the coming years is an interesting one-it requires an inquiry both into the
roles of the police in society and state, and more importantly a study of
current trends and issues that can impact policing. The first explains the
inherent need of society for the police to keep the peace and prevent disorder,
whilst the second relates to the important question of challenges in policing.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The popular movements during the difficult period before independence, communist
insurgency, Indonesian confrontation, revival of communist insurgency, the May
13 incident, economic crisis and reformation movement were amongst the
challenges faced by the RMP in the past.
The 1998 Reformation Movement incidents in particular clearly provided the
necessary signal for the RMP to change its stance in order to meet the present
needs and demands of the population i.e. to be more transparent in its policies.
This has prompted the RMP force to adopt a more professional approach,
inter-alia:-
- to improve its law enforcement capabilities in line with the evolvement that
is taking place in society which has seen vast improvement in the quality of
life;
- to balance between individual rights and the protection of society at large;
- and a need for regular reviews of system and procedures.
Bearing that in mind, in our continuous endeavour to maintain law and order, and
the preservation of peace and security of the nation which will in turn
facilitate national development, the RMP has adopted the following vision
enabling it to provide a quality service. Our vision is:-
‘The RMP to be a leading enforcement agency of integrity, competent and
committed to work with the community.’
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The new millennium is witnessing the appearance of a new threat. No one can deny
the fact that the current global security environment is in the midst of
transforming itself from one that was structured and determined by superpower
rivalry and the cold war, to one that will be based on new consideration and
different power configurations. The era of communism as an ideology is fast
phasing out, overridden by globalization which has become an important feature
in the post-cold war era. An era of borderless world where nation-states exist
as the governing power, and multi national corporations (MNC), non-governmental
organizations (NGO) and individuals simultaneously co-exist as potential threats
to the security of a country.
The role of information and communication technology (ICT) today as an important
feature in promoting globalization has brought about contagion effects on the
security of the borderless nations. The new millennium also witnesses the
emergence of economy as the “play-maker” and with free trade and global economic
activities, the security of a country is being exposed to the threat of economic
and political sabotage, apart from the neo-colonization from the first world.
Ladies and gentlemen,
On the local front, the present also contributes towards the emergence of
political, racial and religious extremism. Today, we need no longer worry about
the threat of communism, but on the other hand we are now faced with the
increased problems of religious militants, and terrorists with international
connections lurking in our midst. Ethnic groups, jealously guarding their
respective interest, politicized issue on Islamic state, the Malay rights and
privileges, meritocracy and economic disparity. This environment creates a
challenge to the security organizations of the country in ensuring political,
social and economic stability.
These in my view, are the new dimensions which warrant a close security
attention, along with the perennial problem of ethnic conflict and illegal
immigrants, as sources of threats to peace and stability of the country.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Crime fighting will remain a key priority for the RMP. This has, and will always
be featured in our policing priorities as this is firstly, our “bread and
butter” issue and secondly, in terms of absolute numbers, crime has shown an
increase over the years. There has been a development of crime trends from
pre-independence period to that of the present date. It has developed from its
humble beginnings of its simple theft, physical injuries caused by direct
confrontation and simple wayside robbery, to that of syndicated crimes and now
the more complex borderless crimes.
Police records indicate that in the 26-year period, from 1980-2006, the index
crime registered an increase in the number of reported cases of crime. The total
reported crimes rose from 70,823 cases in 1980 to 198,622 cases in 2006. Based
on a per 100,000 population index, index crime per 100,000 has increased from
510 in 1980 to 727 in 2006. This is an increase of 42.5%. This sharp increase is
largely due to the fact that RMP in its effort to be a more relevant police
force has expanded its definition of index crimes i.e. the barometer in
measuring crime has been broadened. Since 2006 amongst others, cases like
extortion, rioting, criminal intimidation and causing hurt has been included in
this category. The other reason for its increase is also due to unemployment,
migration from rural to urban areas, the influx of illegal immigrants, the
public’s pathetic attitude and increase in population.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Studies have shown that crime, like the medical sciences emphasizes not just the
curative aspect, but the preventive as well. This is because police statistics
indicate that most crimes are “crimes of opportunity”, which means that they are
in fact preventable. This seems to be borne out by police records which indicate
that “property crimes” (e.g. vehicle theft, snatch theft, and house-breaking),
which are mostly preventable, recording the highest number of index crimes
reported to the police across all the years. This sharp rise of property crimes,
demands that the presence of men in blue be significant enough to lower these
figures. Police records also show that there is a significant increase in crime
and population with no commensurate increase in RMP capacity over the 26-year
period, from 1980-2006. This is yet another reason for the increase of crime.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Over the past years, this law enforcement “product” has been extensively
surveyed. The social turbulence in year 2003 led to the formulation of a
national investigation commission whose reports advanced interest in the study
of our system of law enforcement. The report included major recommendations for
the entire criminal justice in the RMP and quite appropriately stressed the need
for co-operation among each of the system elements. Significantly a notable
portion of the report dealt with the complexity of police responsibilities and
needed improvements in that field.
The commission proposed 125 specific recommendations with 10 strategic thrust
and 9 strategic challenges whose implementation has been in progress. The Royal
Commission findings and recommendations to the government was to transform the
RMP into a world class, twenty first century organization that will be
efficient, clean and trustworthy, dedicated to serve the people and the nation
with integrity and respect for human rights.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In combating crime, as its main agenda and to ease the publics’ alarm on the
rising crime trends and security, we at RMP have implemented a five year
strategy plan beginning this year and will end in 2011 with the following
strategies:-
- to enhance integrity
- to enhance the quality of service
- combat crime to ease public fear
- to curb the misuse of drugs and its supply
- to overcome internal problems relating to peace and security.
The five year plan should be able to develop a culture of ownership of the
force, to get better commitment and esprit de corp and develop a sense of
responsibility amongst police personnel. With the insertion of the five year
plan, it shows our continuous commitment and endeavour in enhancing our services
and to achieve a higher stage of professionalism.
In promoting good governance in a thriving civil society, we have set up a unit
which looks at all issues pertaining to integrity. This is in line with the call
made by HRH Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah in his key note address at
the First Annual Student Leaders Summit 2007 that is “only those who are
capable, responsible and scrupulously honest will be allowed to serve in
position of leadership. Those who are inefficient, incompetent and most
importantly, corrupt should be held in absolute contempt.”
The introduction of e-complaint on our RMP website in March 2007 has enabled the
complainants either the public or the police themselves to make their complaints
in anonymity. This is yet another effort to enhance our credence. It is designed
to be fair, open and to improve communication with complainants and staff
complained against. This will lead to quicker, more proportionate and effective
investigations and enhance greater public confidence.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Crime prevention should not be the sole responsibility of the police alone but
also of the public and other stakeholders concerned. Public apathy in helping
the authorities to fight crime is declining. The members of public should be
alert that no one should assume that they are save from becoming a victim. Thus
intelligent policing comes from the community.
People need to engage with the police. We want to be in contact with the local
people, with the faces you see in your local area. This is in line with our
mission under the five years strategy that is to serve and protect the nation
and to work in partnership with the community in the upkeep of law and order.
You want a personal number to call, there needs to be a community policeman, who
you can feed the information to. Therefore, I have introduced the advertising of
mobile numbers of officers in charge of districts and states to make available
to the public to contact them at any given time.
We seek to work with the community, to serve and be part of the community.
“Community-Oriented Policing” [COP] called “Rakan Cop” is yet another idea of
smart partnership between the police and the public to reduce crime.
In the area of enhancing the police delivery system, we have established more
than one police station in highly populated areas and with more investigation
officers attached. This is unlike earlier where these officers were only
stationed at district police headquarters. These stations have also been
upgraded to provide services that are otherwise found only at the district
police headquarters and, in May this year three of such police stations in
Malacca have started its operation. We have also started implementing
e-document, enhancing leadership teambuilding and the installation of close
circuit television at police stations and in mobile patrol cars (C4i). These are
some of the other efforts towards enhancing an efficient delivery system.
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is not enough to have good policemen. We must have them in sufficient
numbers. Police records shows that there is an increase in crime and population
with no commensurate increase in RMP capacity over the years. With the recent
announcement by the government to increase the intake of extra 60,000 personnel
over and above the existing 97,170 personnel in the period of next five years,
we will assure that quality of service is upheld, especially to reduce crime and
further reduce the existing ratio of one policeman to 1000 people to one
policeman for every 250. On the same note all police stations will be
reorganized according to the size of the population in each area. There will be
‘A’ category police stations with 250 personnel, ‘B’ category with 200
personnel, ‘C’ category with 160 personnel and ‘D’ category with 60 personnel.
The work of the police shall not be done for us by others. We shall have to do
it ourselves and to the very end to make the force what it ought to be, a world
class police force in the 21st century. With this note in mind, I would like to
thank the government under the leadership of the Honourable Prime Minister Dato’
Seri Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi which has looked outside the normal budgetary
allocation and sourced for funds for the police in the coming year of RM6
billion. The allocation of RM6 billion, the biggest single allocation ever for a
government agency, will enhance police efficiency in the delivery of service.
Ladies and gentlemen,
An additional 2,000 mobile patrol cars and 1,900 motorcycles will be provided to
increase police presence in order to curb crime. On the other hand, 1,600
laptops will be supplied to investigating officers and assistant investigating
officers. The money allocated will also be useful in purchasing, amongst others,
advanced and sophisticated forensic equipment. In our action plan patrol cars
will also be equipped with closed circuit television cameras to help us monitor
the situation and document the policeman’s action. At the same time, a mobile
forensic unit will be set up in each state police contingent.
It is apparent that the role of the RMP has been shaped by the changing needs of
the society and nation. Being part of the society and government machinery, we
need to be dynamic in our approach to cope with the ever changing demands placed
upon us. With vision 2020, the RMP’s role would not be only confined to
maintaining law and orders and peace and security, but more of a developmental
nature, reaching out to public through a more community-driven approach and be
re-organised with a view to phase out those who are no longer relevant to the
service. This is in line with our five year strategy plan. As such, the police
will have to give greater impetus to activities designated to promote towards
nation building.
As a concluding note, the RMP policing philosophy of ready to serve and protect
the nation and to work in partnership with the community equally fits into the
challenges of the next millennium. It is an everlasting and balanced concoction
of contemporary philosophies to achieve a desirable end. The end is to
crystallize the vision where ideally the society is peaceful and prosperous. The
perfect equilibrium would be the integration of the knowledge-based society and
the police force of multi-faceted capabilities in a thriving civil society.
Thank you. 
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