When the recommendations of the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysian Police were revealed, public views and concerns over the men and women in blue were finally addressed openly.

It did not come as a shock for many Malaysians who read the cases and areas of concern contained in the report, for they - and even foreigners here - have had some form of bad experience with the police.

The dismal media reporting on such cases has failed to keep the department in check.

With the report, the hope for an independent, accountable and professional police in Malaysia came alive. The public and concerned groups celebrated this and continued to ask Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to implement all the recommendations.

However, unfavourable news about the police have continued to make headlines, much to our disappointment. It seems, as far as the police are concerned, the lengthy report has had no effect at all.

What is the problem and what is happening to the notion of reform with the police?

The opponents

Now, it appears that not only the police were peeved with report, but also some political parties and politicians. Leading the charge is Umno.

On Jan 24, the Umno Overseas Club Alumni Organisation lodged a police report against DAP parliamentarian Teresa Kok for exposing the infamous 'nude squats' scandal.

She had revealed to the press and her peers a video-clip depicting a woman detainee being forced to do 'ear squats' in the nude at a police station.

Umno Overseas Club, in its police report, accused the opposition leader of "storing, distributing and disseminating pornographic material".

Another Umno politician and Deputy Internal Security Minister Noh Omar (photo) suggested that Kok and Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang should be taken to task for "creating trouble".

It looks like human rights violators do have some supporters after.

As many continued their feverish prayer for reform, the prime minister said the key recommendation of the commission - The Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) - will be implemented.

This was given the stamp of approval by the Backbenchers Club chairperson Shahrir Abdul Samad. It seemed that all the prayers did not go to waste.

However, Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein Onn, who is also Umno Youth chief, reportedly said recently that it is unlikely that the wing will support the establishment of the IPCMC.

In Malay, this would be seen as anak dah lawan bapak (son challenging the father) or generally known as lawan taukeh. It is a fact there is a serious effort to undermine Abdullah's administration and his reform agenda.

Special relationship

Absolute power and impunity. These are the problems with our police force today.

They have been developed to this state by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad. The police as a key structure in Mahathir's authoritarian rule.

The 'black eye' incident involving his former deputy, Anwar Ibrahim, is a clear example of this.

The police here are seen by many as a tool of the government and a 'political force' in this country. The men and women in blue have inherited the British-style of battling the communists.

Since they allegedly enjoy a special relationship with the political powers-that-be, they trade protection for impunity and political leverage. We saw this during the reformasi movement.

Structurally, such allegations surface, as the Royal Malaysia Police Force is a centralised body free from a democratic process and not part of a citizen's force as we see it in UK and US where they are under an elected local council that is known as the citizen's police.

For example, in the US, the mayor of every city, big or small, controls the police by means of his authority to hire and dismiss its chief, a system where the police force of a particular jurisdiction are made accountable to the local community.

A local council election and the jurisdiction of the police under the local government is a key structure to ensure greater independence of the police force. It makes the police accountable for their performance to the public and not to national politicians who, with the powers at their disposal, put the force above the law.

In Malaysia, the IPCMC is a key factor to set an accountability process for our policing system, lay the perimeters and establish a system that our police are not above the law and abide by the principles of human rights and rule of law.

It is an established fact that there is a serious need for reform in the police force, but this will depend on the political will of the premier and Umno.

Bigger game in play?

An interesting factor to note will be to see how Umno Youth openly broke ranks with Abdullah's stand.

It appears that there is a force moving against Abdullah, a force that wants to protect and continue to enjoy the special relationship with the police similar to Mahathir.

What is the bigger game behind this and who are the ones pulling the strings?

Would it be too far fetched to think that a new premier could just be lurking around the corner? To some, it does not matter, for they feel that with without Abdullah, things will remain the same.

Such questions draw us to a bigger question about our political system and reform agenda.

K SHAN is a human rights activist attached to various organisations working with refugees.