A reader says that the story of an auditor who was made to pay RM250 to secure the release of his stolen car was a common occurrence.


Concern: I am not surprised at all that Chong Yaw Huey have to pay was RM250 to get his stolen car released. Such 'payments' have been common for many years. I hope ACA officers could go undercover to probe these cases at the PJ traffic police station. ACA can also get information from workshops and the poor victims. I believe it is a disease from top to bottom of the force. I hope that the independent police watchdog will get implemented as soon as possible to make our police force clean and honourable.


R Rama Chandran: The present police administration should realise that the Mahathir regime is over where secrecy was kept till doomsday. Now it is an open government. Literacy and awareness have gone up many folds. The police cannot play the same game any longer as the people are more and more aware of their rights and obligations. The police must always be righteous in their dealing with the people, be they ordinary citizens, or criminals.


Lim Wing Hooi: Recently, virtually any issue that arise seems to be about the police force. After the royal police commission, the people began to have a greater understanding about the police, both the good and the bad. But more is needed to be understood. By understanding the shortcomings of the police, more constructive methods need to be done to fulfill the aspirations of the Malaysians for a clean and effective police force.

By only understanding their shortcomings and then slamming the police force hard, nothing good will come to the country. In an exclusive interview by The Star, IGP Mohd Bakri Omar mentioned that the force has internal mechanisms that ensure the discipline of his men. The fact that there are complaints of alleged abuses committed by the police shows that the mechanism isn't working. Hence, the need for IPCMC which is considered a more transparent overseeing mechanism.

But it is not without its drawbacks.

Too much of interference from civilians will indeed hamper police efforts in solving crime. Why am I saying this? Because I do not know how much will the IPCMC stretch itself. Are the guidelines on when and where they can come in stated clearly? Nobody wants a high profile suspect to be let off just because there some misinterpretations of rights. On the other hand, nobody wants an innocent person to be abused by police officers either.

The internal mechanism mentioned by the IGP is not without its merits: It will always be good for the leadership to solve matters within itself while maintaining the security of the public. When the police voiced their grievances and threaten to 'stop being dedicated', namely only working 9 to 5, will not work overtime to solve cases, etc, it shows that we have forgotten that while we were sleeping soundly at night, there were people out there giving up their sleep for us.

Surely there are still police officers dedicated to their cause.

The leadership must carefully think of what's best for Malaysians. And be patient. We have gone through the first step in understanding the force better. Maybe if the IPCMC isn't the right solution, or the internal disciplinary mechanism isn't working, then there must be something else which we've not thought of.

The following are comments from readers on other reports. This one is on Nazri ticked off for backing Article 11

Chew Swee Yoke: I am sorry to say that PAS should forget about trying to woo non-Muslims. Its strident stand on the Article 11 group shows it has no understanding of the spirit behind the Federal Constitution. I used to say PAS has been badly misunderstood. I now realise that I was wrong.


Mengenai Dr Mahathir sudahlah ... kata Musa Hitam

Original Curry: Adalah satu penipuan besar sekiranya ada rakyat Malaysia yang mengikuti perkembangan politik dan ekonomi negara mengatakan bahawa tidak ada yang tidak kena dengan pentadbiran Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Kebanyakkan keputusan dibuatnya samada membebankan rakyat atau tidak menguntung rakyat. Contohnya seperti dalam isu AP, jambatan indah, penjualan MV Agusta, penubuhan suruhanjaya demi suruhanjaya dan pembatalan projek-projek tertentu.

Masalah yang timbul sekarang ialah tidak ada sesiapa yang berani mengkritik apa yang sedang berlaku. Jika pembangkang yang mengkritik, kerajaan akan membuat kesimpulan ini adalah kritikan biasa pihak yang memerlukan modal dan keuntungan politik. Jika hendak diharapkan menteri-menteri bersuara, ini juga sesuatu yang terlalu mustahil kerana kita semua sedia
maklum, menteri-menteri yang ada cuma mahu menyelamatkan periuk nasi masing-masing.

Jadi seperti biasa mereka akan terus mengangguk dan mengiyakan segala apa yang diputuskan oleh Perdana Menteri.

Oleh itu apa salahnya Tun Dr. Mahathir sendiri yang mengkritik pentadbiran sedia ada? Beliau adalah orang yang paling arif mengenai perjalanan ekonomi dan politik negara ini selepas 22 tahun beliau membentuk dan menjadi ketua negara.

Contoh mudah dalam perkara ini adalah seperti dalam sesuatu permainan bolasepak. Jika satu pasukan itu bermain pada separuh masa pertama dengan dipimpin oleh kapten M, maka corak permainan dan taktik perlawanan telah dirangka lengkap olehnya. Corak ini bersesuaian dengan keadaan tertentu dan kapten M memahami benar apa yang pasukan lawan lakukan. Pada masa ini pasukan ini berjaya menjaringkan 3 gol dan sedang mendahului.

Pada separuh masa kedua, Kapten M dikeluarkan dan dimasukkan pemain baru dan si A dilantik menjadi kapten. Apa yang si A lakukan ialah membalikkan segala strategi kapten M sebentar tadi dan mula menukar corak permainan. Walaupun permainan baru bermula selama 15 minit tetapi sudah 2 gol dijaringkan oleh pasukan lawan.

Keadaan goyah ini pasti akan membuatkan kapten M gusar dan melakukan kritikan untuk membetulkan keadaan supaya pasukan ini tidak terus kalah.

Adakah wajar pemain-pemain dalam pasukan itu menyuruh kapten M berdiam diri dan mengikut membuta-tuli apa yang dikatakan oleh kapten A. Semua sedia maklum kapten A bukanlah seorang yang betul-betul bijak dalam merangka startegi dan masih sangat baru untuk melakukan sesuatu perubahan mendadak.

Apa yang terbaik adalah meneruskan apa yang telah dirancang dan bermain sepenuh hati demi kepentingan pasukan dan peminat.


On TNB workers picket over CA breach

Kobkua: Mat Golden Warrior writes: "I wish to record, in a most strong term, my disagreement with the explanation given by the TNB spokesman on the point that TNB takes good care of its staff and their spouses even after the death of the staff members."

This is not accurate. TNB does not do that. All TNB staff and spouses enjoy health benefits until their retirement or when they cease to be staff members. The privilege mentioned by Encik Sidek is only accorded to LLN staff who continue to work for TNB, and LLN retirees and spouses. I believe it is a most misleading tactic on the part of the management to gloss over this fact. I wonder if this is intentional, or is it an oversight?

Either way, it does not speak well of the present management. If it is intentional then it is unethical of the representative of a GLC to do so; if it is an oversight, it proves the low level of knowledge and efficiency so much prided by TNB.

In spite of what is publicised by the management, it is a prevailing sentiment among the TNB staff, junior and senior, that under the new management, the TNB staff have been given a raw deal. The disregard of the CA (collective agreement) is but one of the many issues creating the unhealthy atmosphere in the company. It is, in fact, surprising that it takes this long for the TNB union to take action.


On Oh no! Why so many 'special draws'?

KSN: I do bet a few ringgit on all the games every week but there is a need to control the frequency of betting, not simply the special draws. I am also aware that a lot of gaming tax is collected by the government.. But at what expense to the poor and simple folks who habitually bet? There is a need to study the adverse social impact of the games such as on a average how much money is spent by an average Malaysian monthly, how it affects his family budget, how many get into debts, domestic problems due short of household budget.

I am not advocating a ban but reduce the frequency of betting opportunities to once a week, each company taking their turns. Better still, merge all into one and fix weekly draws. I trust the Ministry of Finance will study this proposal which will reduce a hosts of problems to the average household.


On Gerakan Youth slams temple demolitions

Dr Raj Kumar Maharajah: The call by Gerakan Youth deputy head S Paranjothy for the wanton destruction of Hindu temples nationwide to cease should be addressed immediately. With local councils and the police directly involved in the demolition of temples, the government in general and the MIC in particular, should wake up from their slumber and protect the rights of minority Malaysians.

Events like this will definitely create racial animosity amongst the Malays and Indians and if left unchecked, may lead to civil unrest. The mainly Muslim Malay local councillors and police should be more sensitive to the feelings of other religious groups and their beliefs just like how other minorities respect Muslim beliefs and practices. Respect begets respect.


On When the Chinese decide to humiliate BN...

Sritharan49: This very interesting analysis of Chinese voter reaction in last Sarawak state elections raises two questions.

1. Why did it take the Chinese in Sarawak so long (two decades) to react?

Sarawak was not in an economic recession over the last five years of Taib Mahmud's government - so what was the tipping point? Why did Taib 'suddenly loose his charm' in 2006, and not earlier?

2. What is the relevance of this Chinese reaction in Sarawak (where they constitute the majority in many constituencies) for similar urban seats (Penang, Selangor, FT, and some in Malacca, NS and Johor) in Peninsular Malaysia?

With Mahathir gone, and Abdullah losing his charm (among some Malaysians), will the DAP re-gain seats that it had lost in the previous election?


On Shahrir defends 'close one eye' MP

One-eyed Parliament: My respect for Shahrir has climbed up and up for the past one or two months but and now has tumbled down to the pits. Let me tell our YB Shahrir what the Mr One-eyed-parliamentarian has done:

He has misled parliament, make our country the laughing stock, my friends from overseas call us the one-eyed Parliament, abuse his power and authority (imagine all our almost 200 lawmakers going round to call on civil servants to close one eye!), set a very bad example (I certainly would not want my children to follow the likes of Mr One-eyed, the honourable YB may teach his children otherwise, but the choice is his), threatened the civil servants, encouraging others to break the law (just because in his eyes [eye? since one is supposed to be closed] the law is unfair to his business), breaking the law ... I could go on and on but the truth is : We all know it is improper for him to do what he did!!!

Oh, oh Shahrir you have just done an injustice to yourself - you have lost my vote.