Their role is to ensure that law and order are maintained so that individual liberty could thrive. They are the reason we can go to work and come home safely most of the time.
Imagine what our society would be without them. It would be a field day for criminals if they weren’t there.
They patrol the streets and the dark lanes of towns and villages, often fronting those with guns, daggers, drunkards and other mischievous characters to ensure that the public is safe.
They have to tackle armed robbery, drug gangs, terrorists, break-ins, assaults, child abuse, rape, murder, dangerous driving and a countless number of other intricate offences.
They file reports of incidents, and many testify at trials and hearings.
The public should not be so negative on those who are prepared to take on the physically hostile and infuriated people in society that many would not want to deal with.
The police are those who run towards what we run away from to keep the public safe. They therefore should not be made to feel being snubbed or reviled. For this reason the public should not demoralise the police.
There may be a few bad hats in the force but the majority are executing their noble duty with passion and accountability. Their contribution to society should not be eclipsed by the sporadic cases of wrongdoers among its members.
From the days of the communist insurgency to the present day, the police force has lost many members. They lost their lives prematurely in the cause of their duty leaving behind their loved ones. They have indeed undertaken a hard job to ensure the country is safe.
Given a choice, not many would want to be in the police force, as there are a lot more challenges to be faced in this career today.
The public, therefore, should rally behind the police when it comes to preserving the country’s security, not despise or dishearten them.
During the notorious days of the communist insurgency after the Japanese occupation, many of our security personnel died in action. The police force had been involved in many other major cases and incidents in the past such as during the Bukit Kepong incident (1950), the Memali incident (1985), the Al-Mau’nah Arms Heist (2000) and the Sulu militants’ intrusion in Sabah (2013) that saw a number of our police personnel killed, not to mention many who died in combat with robbers and gangsters.
They lost their lives while on duty to ensure that others could live in peace.
Unsung heroes
The nation’s history on the sacrifice and the evolution of the country’s police force and their sacrifice is not mentioned in any of our school history textbooks. This is very unfortunate.
In fact, the long history of our police force began since the days of the Melaka sultanate and almost a year after Merdeka. On July 24, 1958, it evolved into the Royal Malayan Federations Police Force (RMFP) and later became the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP).
RMP today has about 112,000 officers, keeping out 32 million population safe.
Crime will give no peace to any society but combating crime is not an easy task. If crime has to be nipped, the police must perform their duty without fear or favour.
When the police arrest or shoot criminals in self-defence the silent majority are usually supportive of this move. Regretfully, it becomes bad news to some lawyers, politicians and NGOs.
And if they are not supported by politicians, abused, attacked in the press this will further dampen the spirit of the police force.
It will certainly put the morale of the force at a precariously low ebb. The force will naturally be crestfallen when the public has an adverse perception of them.
Peeping into their workplace, as it is now, many are in deplorable conditions. In some stations, abandoned flat houses are improvised to become their office and some departments are ill-equipped even with basic conveniences to get their jobs done professionally.
They receive hundreds of reports each day followed by the process of investigation. The task is certainly not easy for them.
Trauma as officers is certainly on the increase. They would not complain to the higher officers when they are down as they will be reproached and taken off active duty.
The police go on duty realising that at times they may have to make decisions in a fraction of a second to save lives that will then be scrutinised over many months and years by lawyers, the courts, politicians and the press from the comfort of their office chairs.
Some will be deciding if the police should face charges for the decisions they make. This must be taking its toll on the police force.
The police have to be armed with weapons for protection. They cannot go round carrying just batons anymore.
Of course they should be held accountable but let’s have some propriety when censuring them for using those weapons.
They are human beings holding those weapons and not dummies. When faced with threats this may trigger them to use the weapons in self-defence.
In fact, we should appreciate that they take that responsibility despite knowing that they will be hung out to dry even after they have accomplished their tasks dutifully.
If there is no sign of support, many police personnel may even give up doing what they should do in their line of duty.
Some though have had enough and are leaving the force voluntarily.
Should we not be grateful that the police are doing their job?
As responsible citizens, just abide by the law, as this will make the job easier for the police.
Disparaging the police for the wrong the public has committed may even see more exodus from the force. This is not going to bode well for the country.
The police for that reason need to be backed and the public should be willing to cooperate with them. They are both part of the community they serve.
The public, the press and politicians need to stop taking cheap shots at them, instead show some appreciation for all the sacrifice made by the police force.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.