ON Sept 3, 1981, an escaped "convict" walked along the streets of Kuala Lumpur. Dressed in black shorts and a white T-shirt, he had handcuffs dangling from one wrist. He was first seen at a bus stop near what used to be the Klang bus terminal and then along Jalan Masjid India. He even went to a locksmith in the area and requested that the latter use his skills to pick the handcuff.

From there he walked to Jalan Pasar where he boarded a mini-bus. During that period, hundreds if not thousands of people had an opportunity to pounce on the "convict". On the bus, no one dared to look at him, turning their eyes elsewhere. One concerned "passenger" asked those in the bus to jointly apprehend the man, but they were reluctant.

The mini-bus driver was asked to drive directly to the Jalan Travers police station, but he refused. The "convict" got off at what used to be the Railway Station and walked away.

That "convict" was me. Then a young reporter, I carried out an "experiment" with the help of the then Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri (now Tun) Hanif Omar. In an earlier interview he had lamented public apathy and the lack of cooperation in fighting crime.

Has anything changed? It's hard to tell but once in a while, a good episode gives the impression that things have changed. Last week, in Klang a phone retailer and a customer succeeded in not only fending off a robbery attempt, but apprehended the armed robber.

And published statistics have shown that the crime rate has been substantially reduced. Is this because of better policing and more cooperation from the public?

Neither. Many people have decided to protect themselves by creating gated communities with barriers and boom gates in their housing estates. Why do they have to do this when the police force is expected to provide for their safety and that of their property?

That's because they can't trust the police force to deploy manpower in providing such vital services. Besides, they see the police giving higher priority to other "petty political" issues and view the police force of being selective in their investigations.

How can such perceptions change? They can't come easy because the entire government and its institutions are suffering from the disease called information disease syndrome. The police have not been able to justify why some cases are acted upon on receiving the first information report while others are not acted upon.

When a good Samaritan chased and knocked down two policemen-turned-snatch thieves, the public applauded him and paid for the repairs to his car. But the policemen were exonerated. How do you change public perception with such incidents?

In a space of two weeks, two journalists had their statements recorded for alleged breach of the law. One was on her coverage of the Sarawak election while the other was on the "Citizens' Declaration". So many seditious words have appeared in the social media and at public gatherings, but they don't seem to bother the police.

It has been three years since RM4 million disappeared from the coffers of the Paralympics Council of Malaysia. Police reports were made but to date, the money's gone and no one has been held responsible for it.

I do not take sides, but when it comes to politicians, especially those from the other side, the actions are quick and fast.

To change such views, the police must not only act fairly but also be seen to be acting fairly.

The police report or the "Borang 55" has become the tool for all and sundry for their five minutes of fame.

Sometimes, matters not under the purview of the police are reported; in some cases, the reports are false. But understandably, the police cannot refuse to accept any report – that's the rule of the land.

When police reports are made by two people on different issues, shouldn't both be investigated instead of one getting priority?

Usually, the police tell us they want to carry out investigations discreetly and are unable to provide details.

The police force has to win the confidence of the public by its deeds in prioritising the needs of the people.

It is not helping itself by giving the impression that it is an arm of the ruling party by just going after (mostly) opposition politicians and independent journalists.

R. Nadeswaran is editor (special and investigative reporting at theSun). Comments: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Resource : The Sun Daily