Do you trust the police? Probably not
Sim Kwang YangPublished: May 14, 2009 5:33 AM | Updated: May 14, 2009 11:35 AM
Over a sumptuous meal and free flow of drinks with friends at my Cheras house, the conversation inevitably swung to the subject of arrests on dissent last week.
As it turned out, two of my dinner guests were among those arrested at the Brickfields police station on May 3 during a candlelight vigil in solidarity with Wong Chin Fatt. Wong's alleged crime was for holding a press conference to call on Malaysians to wear black.
Over a sumptuous meal and free flow of drinks with friends at my Cheras house, the conversation inevitably swung to the subject of arrests on dissent last week.
As it turned out, two of my dinner guests were among those arrested at the Brickfields police station on May 3 during a candlelight vigil in solidarity with Wong Chin Fatt. Wong's alleged crime was for holding a press conference to call on Malaysians to wear black.
Relating his experience, Liew, a soft-spoken, mild-mannered, and successful businessman in his early 40s, said that the incident being detained by the men in blue has equipped him - mentally and emotionally - to better deal with them, if such encounter is to be a repeat.
Following a call by a friend on that fateful evening, Liew went to the Brickfields police station.
Not before assuring his wife that she would be well taken-care of should anything happen to him.
Liew was the first to arrive, followed by Lee, another common friend of ours. Before long, a group of between 20 and 30 people showed up and we started lighting candles.
"It was a cumbersome job to light these candles because it was rather windy that evening," Liew said, over a glass of bubbly drink.
"Our actions attracted the attention of policemen in the station, and finally, plainclothes policemen came to tell us to disperse. We ignored them, they arrested us, and brought us into the station," he added.
There were no handcuffs and they were not shoved into the lock-up. However, tables were set up to interview those detained.
Tricked to answer
Speaking in Bahasa Malaysia, a youthful-looking policeman took down Liew's personal details but what transpired later stunned him. "His first question was to ask me who my father was. I was baffled. I told him my father has no relevance in what I was doing. I asked him why did he ask such a question."
The policeman gave up, and proceeded to ask what is Liew's occupation. He has no job, Liew stated. "He then continued to asked why I was there in front of the police station. I said it was to show solidarity to Wong Chin Fatt, who was detained in this police station."
Liew was mystified when the policeman asked why Wong was arrested. "He's a policeman. He should know why," Liew exclaimed.
A written statement was later given to Liew to be signed. In the statement, a few lines in red print stood out that stated one can choose not to answer questions by the police. Feeling tricked, Liew questioned the policeman.
"I told him that I refuse to sign the statement because I was not cautioned. If I knew I did not have to answer any questions, I would have just asked him to go fly kite. What did I do wrong? What laws had I transgressed?," Liew explained.
The policeman stood up and tore the statement.
Meanwhile, a lady, who was also detained, created a raucous when she shouted her rights to the policemen, who seemed intimidated by her actions.
Two hours later, the police released those who were detained. Looking back, Liew said though he was apprehensive for being detained for the first time, he was not angry with the policemen. He knew they were just doing their job on the instruction of their superiors, and they might not even like their task. Besides, the men in blue were polite to those detained, he added.
Scarred by corrupt image
Liew's story brought to light a common public perception of the police force.
Not only does the police force is perceived as corrupt, many do not even trust them. That aside, the public also lack sufficient knowledge of their rights as a citizen.
A policeman has to prove his identity by showing his warrant card first.
There are too many criminals pretending to be policemen, either in plain clothes or in uniform. If the policeman flashes his card for a quick two seconds and then pocket it, you can insist on taking down his name and number. You could begin to answer his questions, if you want to.
If the policeman intends to arrest, you have every right to demand under which law did the criminal offence violated. You can also demand immediate access to a lawyer, or a call to your family or friend.
There was a time in my childhood when parents would frighten crying children into silence by saying, "Stop crying. The police is coming." That was a time when an ordinary policeman enjoyed great reverence and prestige among the ‘rakyat'.
But times have changed. Though the public would still call the police for help if they are in trouble, and instinctively they knew many policemen are still obeying an order when doing their duties, the public perception that many policemen are corrupt still persists.
The moral authority and the public image of the entire police force is further corroded when they are used to repress the opposition parties, civil societies, and ordinary citizens with all kinds of archaic and outdated laws, which were enacted when the country was fighting the communist.
Similar to Liew, the new Malaysians are better educated, informed, and independent. The ‘rakyat' can no longer be intimidated.
When police act against the principle of common sense, fairness and justice, as they did in Perak recently, New Malaysians will only have contempt for them.
Then they will plan how to vote in the next general election.
SIM KWANG YANG was MP for Bandar Kuching from 1982 to 1995. He can be reached at kenyalang578@hotmail.com.
As it turned out, two of my dinner guests were among those arrested at the Brickfields police station on May 3 during a candlelight vigil in solidarity with Wong Chin Fatt. Wong's alleged crime was for holding a press conference to call on Malaysians to wear black.
Relating his experience, Liew, a soft-spoken, mild-mannered, and successful businessman in his early 40s, said that the incident being detained by the men in blue has equipped him - mentally and emotionally - to better deal with them, if such encounter is to be a repeat.
Following a call by a friend on that fateful evening, Liew went to the Brickfields police station.Not before assuring his wife that she would be well taken-care of should anything happen to him.
Liew was the first to arrive, followed by Lee, another common friend of ours. Before long, a group of between 20 and 30 people showed up and we started lighting candles.
"It was a cumbersome job to light these candles because it was rather windy that evening," Liew said, over a glass of bubbly drink.
"Our actions attracted the attention of policemen in the station, and finally, plainclothes policemen came to tell us to disperse. We ignored them, they arrested us, and brought us into the station," he added.
There were no handcuffs and they were not shoved into the lock-up. However, tables were set up to interview those detained.
Tricked to answer
Speaking in Bahasa Malaysia, a youthful-looking policeman took down Liew's personal details but what transpired later stunned him. "His first question was to ask me who my father was. I was baffled. I told him my father has no relevance in what I was doing. I asked him why did he ask such a question."
The policeman gave up, and proceeded to ask what is Liew's occupation. He has no job, Liew stated. "He then continued to asked why I was there in front of the police station. I said it was to show solidarity to Wong Chin Fatt, who was detained in this police station."
Liew was mystified when the policeman asked why Wong was arrested. "He's a policeman. He should know why," Liew exclaimed.
A written statement was later given to Liew to be signed. In the statement, a few lines in red print stood out that stated one can choose not to answer questions by the police. Feeling tricked, Liew questioned the policeman.
"I told him that I refuse to sign the statement because I was not cautioned. If I knew I did not have to answer any questions, I would have just asked him to go fly kite. What did I do wrong? What laws had I transgressed?," Liew explained.
The policeman stood up and tore the statement.
Meanwhile, a lady, who was also detained, created a raucous when she shouted her rights to the policemen, who seemed intimidated by her actions.
Two hours later, the police released those who were detained. Looking back, Liew said though he was apprehensive for being detained for the first time, he was not angry with the policemen. He knew they were just doing their job on the instruction of their superiors, and they might not even like their task. Besides, the men in blue were polite to those detained, he added.
Scarred by corrupt image
Liew's story brought to light a common public perception of the police force.
Not only does the police force is perceived as corrupt, many do not even trust them. That aside, the public also lack sufficient knowledge of their rights as a citizen. A policeman has to prove his identity by showing his warrant card first.
There are too many criminals pretending to be policemen, either in plain clothes or in uniform. If the policeman flashes his card for a quick two seconds and then pocket it, you can insist on taking down his name and number. You could begin to answer his questions, if you want to.
If the policeman intends to arrest, you have every right to demand under which law did the criminal offence violated. You can also demand immediate access to a lawyer, or a call to your family or friend.
There was a time in my childhood when parents would frighten crying children into silence by saying, "Stop crying. The police is coming." That was a time when an ordinary policeman enjoyed great reverence and prestige among the ‘rakyat'.
But times have changed. Though the public would still call the police for help if they are in trouble, and instinctively they knew many policemen are still obeying an order when doing their duties, the public perception that many policemen are corrupt still persists.
The moral authority and the public image of the entire police force is further corroded when they are used to repress the opposition parties, civil societies, and ordinary citizens with all kinds of archaic and outdated laws, which were enacted when the country was fighting the communist.
Similar to Liew, the new Malaysians are better educated, informed, and independent. The ‘rakyat' can no longer be intimidated.
When police act against the principle of common sense, fairness and justice, as they did in Perak recently, New Malaysians will only have contempt for them.
Then they will plan how to vote in the next general election.
SIM KWANG YANG was MP for Bandar Kuching from 1982 to 1995. He can be reached at kenyalang578@hotmail.com.
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