If there is any one single largest factor that has caused the Barisan Nasional government to lose the support and goodwill of even neutral voters in recent years, it must be the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM). It must be radically reformed before any thought is given to the planning of the next general election.

First, it seems that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the deputy premier are so dependent on police support that they have never been seen reprimanding the police publicly, such as over their mishandling of Ops Warta II;

Second, the over-blown threat of terrorism has frightened some people to the extent that they dare not criticise the police openly.

It is time for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) to completely take over from the police the task of combating terrorism. The MOD and MAF are more knowledgeable, more equipped and more networked regionally and internationally to face the threat of terrorism.

MAF needs more tasks to keep it in preparedness and prevent boredom from developing into negative mood.

Without the excuse of fighting terrorism, the police must perform better in their proper areas of responsibility like combating crimes, and ridding themselves of corruption, inefficiency and incompetence. There will be no cover for the corrupt, incompetent and inefficient police to hide.

Third, a minor Cabinet reshuffle is needed to appoint a law-literate minister like Dr Rais Yatim as the new Home Minister so that he could control and direct the police with moral authority and the legitimacy of knowledge.

Fourth, a new inspector-general of police is needed to pacify the people and voters whose anger after Ops Warta II may turn them against the government in the next election.