Malaysia’s PDRM law unto itself: Open letter to country&#39;s IG of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah

Malaysia’s PDRM law unto itself: Open letter to country's IG of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah

By Jeswan Kaur*
“The road to hell is paved with good intentions” but this profound understanding is lost on Malaysia’s police force, Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).
In 2020, I stepped into the office of a senior police officer, Masrol Riadi, to discuss my case (a criminal intimidation matter) and his first words were “Mata kamu mengsteamkan” which in English would mean “your eyes arouse me.”
That was the first red flag I noticed. Then came the good morning messages and videos. My reprimanding him did not help nor did my reminding Masrol that I could report him for sexual harassment.
I made my way to the city’s top cop and demanded an explanation as to how the police would deal with such lecherous officer and who had messed up my case.
I was assured the cop concerned would be rebuked. I was then told to lodge a report against him with ASP Nori Mt from the Disciplinary Unit.
It did not take me long to realise that ASP Nori was a diva in disguise and loved every bit of attention coming her way as seen through the pictures she constantly posted on her WhatsApp status. Whilst the public was threatened with a fine if they refused to wear the face mask during lockdown, she was all over the place without a face mask.
When I requested that she set a good example as a cop, ASP Nori blocked my number.
As for my earlier case, that involving criminal intimidation, I was referred to an ASP Noor Zarini.
Mr IGP, all three cops I dealt with had no qualms behaving as if they are above the law. Noor Zarini like Nori never bothered updating me about my case as perhaps a VIP’s case “carried more weight”.
My last WhatsApp communication with Noor Zarini dated August 1, 2022 went: “Puan ASP, what’s happening to my case?”. Her reply: “hi good morning mem. Lama I tak update dengan you…minta maaf…disebabkan sibuk dgn tugas baru saya ini.”
(She apologised for not updating me as she was busy with her new responsibility).
When I responded “That’s no excuse. Its’s a serious matter,” Noor Zarini blocked my number.
Mr IGP, I spent hours going back and forth the police station because your officers in blue were incompetent and irresponsible. Yet, I remained determined to seek redress for my case and am still waiting.
I noticed a similar “couldn’t care less” attitude at the Sexual Women and Children’s Investigation Division (D11) with officers like Sergeant Nurhafezah.
Mr IGP, is this your idea of all is well with PDRM?

IPCMC a collateral damage

For the longest time, 17 years now, repeated calls were made to reform PDRM but none saw the light of day.
PDRM’s notoriety remains uncanny, from custodial deaths to rape and nude squats in police lock-ups. That the image of the police force desperately begs rehabilitation is an understatement.
Yet, the powers that be found no reason for alarm and decided all is well with PDRM.
Had this been true, Meta would have no basis to accuse PDRM of masterminding a troll farm designed to “corrupt or manipulate public discourse.”
In its Adversarial Threat Report for the Second Quarter of 2022 released last month, Meta exposed Malaysia's police force as the hand behind the troll farm.
The Meta revelations about individuals behind the PDRM troll farm say they were active on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter and Instagram, they posted memes in Malay, supported the current government coalition and made claims of corruption amongst the current Barisan Nasional’s critics.
They also created Facebook Pages that posed as independent news entities and promoted police while criticising the opposition.
(PDRM enforces the laws of the country, including the Internet. In fact, they have a Cyber & Multimedia Criminal Investigation Unit under the Commercial Crime Investigation Department. It works together with the National Cyber Security Agency [NACSA] to tackle cybersecurity threats, and these would include malicious influence campaigns).
Soon after Meta's bombshell disclosure, PDRM through its secretary Noorsiah Mohd Saaduddin whilst denying the police's involvement inch unscrupulous acts, said it took the allegations seriously and was in the midst of collecting information about them.
PDRM's slapdash reaction to the allegations was no move in the right direction. How did PDRM conclude that the force is "clean" when information gathering was still on-going?
To abdicate responsibility over wrongdoings has been the way of life for Malaysian government agencies and PDRM is no exception. I, Mr IGP, am among those who can bear witness to this.

IPCMC saw no light of day

Transparency International Malaysia in a letter to editor last year bemoaned the lack of political will to put in place the much pleaded for Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).
(The IPCMC was mooted by the Royal Commission to enhance the Operation and Management of PDRM, headed by former chief justice Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah in 2005, the objective being to improve oversight and allow independent investigation and punishment for errant, abusive and corrupt officers across the rank and file._
IPCMC sadly never saw the light of day during the reign of the Barisan Nasional government.
A glimmer of hope came the country's way when the Pakatan Harapan government tabled the IPCMC Bill in 2019 only to have it deferred for review by a parliamentary select committee due to "lack of consultation".
The death knell came when the Pakatan Harapan administration collapsed in February 2020. Its successor, the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, was more concerned about securing vote banks to secure power. It got rid of IPCMC and replaced it with a watered down Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) Bill.
Then prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin nonchalantly tabled the IPCC Bill in Dewan Rakyat on August 26, 2020. He was soon shown the door and replaced by an equally incompetent and unscrupulous premier, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who decided best to go with the flow vis-à-vis the feeble IPCC Bill.
The IPCMC saga spanned 17 years, rejected each time by all four governments and five prime ministers. The seven inspector-generals of police that came and went were at best hapless as the IPCMC suffered four name changes .
Transparency International Malaysia went through a similar anguish when its repeated calls for the IPCMC to be enforced were dismissed.
Last year inspector-general of police Abdul Hamid Bador revealed a police culture of corruption among police personnel. Now, news of a PDRM-operated troll farm has added more fuel to the raging fire that all is definitely not well with PDRM.
Ti-Malaysia president Dr Muhammad Mohan then said it was shocking there were cartels within PDRM who both protected and colluded with criminal organisations and individuals and remained powerful enough to throttle the inspector-general of police's position and hamper his efforts to investigate them.
Equally frustrated was Johor police chief Ayob Khan who was reported as saying he would charge errant police officers in court instead of referring them to PDRM’s Integrity Department (Jips) with regards to these officers’ misconduct.
Then there was news that a purported whistleblower who had revealed names of police personnel said to be involved in abuse of power, protecting, abetting, conspiring and accepting bribes from the syndicates (such as Nicky Liow and Addy Kana) was arrested.
Mr IGP, had I not been a journalist would you thrash my “revelation” that PDRM has become a law unto itself?
Is silencing the common voice the easy and safe way out for PDRM?
---
*Journalist based in Malaysia

Comments

Beyond his riding skill, Karl Umrigar was admired for his radiance, sportsmanship, and affability

By Harsh Thakor* Karl Umrigar's name remains etched in the annals of Indian horse racing, a testament to a talent tragically cut short. An accident on the racetrack at the tender age of nineteen robbed India of a rider on the cusp of greatness. Had he survived, there's little doubt he would have ascended to international stature, possibly becoming the greatest Indian jockey ever. Even 46 years after his death, his name shines brightly, reminiscent of an inextinguishable star. His cousin, Pesi Shroff, himself blossomed into one of the most celebrated jockeys in Indian horse racing.

Aurangzeb’s last will recorded by his Maulvi: Allah shouldn't make anyone emperor

By Mohan Guruswamy Aurangzeb’s grave is a simple slab open to the sky lying along the roadside at Khuldabad near Aurangabad. I once stopped by to marvel at the tomb of an Emperor of India whose empire was as large as Ashoka the Great's. It was only post 1857 when Victoria's domain exceeded this. The epitaph reads: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast." (The rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave) The modest tomb of Aurangzeb is perhaps the least recognised legacies of the Mughal Emperor who ruled the land for fifty eventful years. He was not a builder having expended his long tenure in war and conquest. Towards the end of his reign and life, he realised the futility of it all. He wrote: "Allah should not make anyone an emperor. The most unfortunate person is he who becomes one." Aurangzeb’s last will was re...

PUCL files complaint with SC against Gujarat police, municipal authorities for 'unlawful' demolitions, custodial 'violence'

By A Representative The People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has lodged a formal complaint with the Chief Justice of India, urging the Supreme Court to initiate suo-moto contempt proceedings against the police and municipal authorities in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The complaint alleges that these officials have engaged in unlawful demolitions and custodial violence, in direct violation of a Supreme Court order issued in November 2024.

How the slogan Jai Bhim gained momentum as movement of popularity and revolution

By Dr Kapilendra Das* India is an incomprehensible plural country loaded with diversities of religions, castes, cultures, languages, dialects, tribes, societies, costumes, etc. The Indians have good manners/etiquette (decent social conduct, gesture, courtesy, politeness) that build healthy relationships and take them ahead to life. In many parts of India, in many situations, and on formal occasions, it is common for people of India to express and exchange respect, greetings, and salutation for which we people usually use words and phrases like- Namaskar, Namaste, Pranam, Ram Ram, Jai Ram ji, Jai Sriram, Good morning, shubha sakal, Radhe Radhe, Jai Bajarangabali, Jai Gopal, Jai Jai, Supravat, Good night, Shuvaratri, Jai Bhole, Salaam walekam, Walekam salaam, Radhaswami, Namo Buddhaya, Jai Bhim, Hello, and so on. A soft attitude always creates strong relationships. A relationship should not depend only on spoken words. They should rely on understanding the unspoken feeling too. So w...

राजस्थान, मध्यप्रदेश, पश्चिम बंगाल, झारखंड और केरल फिसड्डी: जल जीवन मिशन के लक्ष्य को पाने समन्वित प्रयास जरूरी

- राज कुमार सिन्हा* जल संसाधन से जुड़ी स्थायी समिति ने वर्तमान लोकसभा सत्र में पेश रिपोर्ट में बताया है कि "नल से जल" मिशन में राजस्थान, मध्यप्रदेश, पश्चिम बंगाल, झारखंड और केरल फिसड्डी साबित हुए हैं। जबकि देश के 11 राज्यों में शत-प्रतिशत ग्रामीणों को नल से जल आपूर्ति शुरू कर दी गई है। रिपोर्ट में समिति ने केंद्र सरकार को सिफारिश की है कि मिशन पुरा करने में राज्य सरकारों की समस्याओं पर गौर किया जाए।

Incarcerated for 2,424 days, Sudhir Dhawale combines Ambedkarism with Marxism

By Harsh Thakor One of those who faced incarceration both under Congress and BJP rule, Sudhir Dhawale was arrested on June 6, 2018, one of the first six among the 16 people held in what became known as the Elgar Parishad case. After spending 2,424 days in incarceration, he became the ninth to be released from jail—alongside Rona Wilson, who walked free with him on January 24. The Bombay High Court granted them bail, citing the prolonged imprisonment without trial as a key factor. I will always remember the moments we spent together in Mumbai between 1998 and 2006, during public meetings and protests across a wide range of issues. Sudhir was unwavering in his commitment to Maoism, upholding the torch of B.R. Ambedkar, and resisting Brahmanical fascism. He sought to bridge the philosophies of Marxism and Ambedkarism. With boundless energy, he waved the banner of liberation, becoming the backbone of the revolutionary democratic centre in Mumbai and Maharashtra. He dedicated himself ...

State Human Rights Commission directs authorities to uphold environmental rights in Vadodara's Vishwamitri River Project

By A Representative The Gujarat State Human Rights Commission (GSHRC) has ordered state and Vadodara municipal authorities to strictly comply with environmental and human rights safeguards during the Vishwamitri River Rejuvenation Project, stressing that the river’s degradation disproportionately affects marginalized communities and violates citizens’ rights to a healthy environment. The Commission mandated an immediate halt to ecologically destructive practices, rehabilitation of affected communities, transparent adherence to National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders, and public consultations with experts and residents. The order follows the Concerned Citizens of Vadodara coalition—environmentalists, ecologists, and urban planners—submitting a detailed letter to authorities, amplifying calls for accountability. The group warned that current plans to “re-section” and “desilt” the river contradict the NGT’s 2021 Vishwamitri River Action Plan, which prioritizes floodpla...

CPM’s evaluation of BJP reflects its political character and its reluctance to take on battle against neo-fascism

By Harsh Thakor* A controversial debate has emerged in the revolutionary camp regarding the Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s categorization of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Many Communists criticize the CPM’s reluctance to label the BJP as a fascist party and India as a fascist state. Various factors must be considered to arrive at an accurate assessment. Understanding the original meaning and historical development of fascism is essential, as well as analyzing how it manifests in the present global and national context.

Implications of deaths of Maoist leaders G. Renuka and Ankeshwarapu Sarayya in Chhattisgarh

By Harsh Thakor* In the wake of recent security operations in southern Chhattisgarh, two senior Maoist leaders, G. Renuka and Ankeshwarapu Sarayya, were killed. These operations, which took place amidst a historically significant Maoist presence, resulted in the deaths of 31 individuals on March 20th and 16 more three days prior.

Haven't done a good deed, inner soul is cursing me as sinner: Aurangzeb's last 'will'

Counterview Desk The Tomb of Aurangzeb, the last of the strong Mughal emperors, located in Khuldabad, Aurangabad district, Maharashtra, has this epitaph inscribed on it: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e maa ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast" (the rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave).

Search This Blog