Smoke and Mirrors

So we have a new panel to probe into the famous or rather infamous “squatgate” incident. After this, I am sure all Americans will know where Malaysia is. Before perhaps 10% of their citizens could place Malaysia on the map. Maybe we could even organise special tours for the Yanks to replace the Chinese tourists.

Kind of package it as a tour celebrating the Abu Graib incidents. After all Iraq is still too dangerous for the Americans and Malaysia would be a good destination. For a special premium we could even allow those with phone cameras to capture a one-minute sequence during our strip search routine.

Back to serious reality. This incident may have been prevented if the recommendations of the earlier Police Inquiry had been carried out. I understand that this “ear squat” routine was one of the items mentioned in that report.

There is also reluctance from some quarters against some of the recommendations. Figures of 1% and 5% corrupt and abusive elements in the force have been mentioned but I just wonder why we have even 1%. We cannot tolerate corruption in the police force and if there is a known “bad apple”, that person must be reformed or removed. And I don’t mean transfer to another post in a remote place.

The police affect our everyday lives and we cannot have a force that is known to be 1% corrupt. Some people mention that we should not criticise the police too much or they will not be able to operate properly.

The basics are the police are a legal body with powers given to it by Parliament via laws and the police cannot become a self-actuating body and are definitely not a law unto itself.

With the powers entrusted to it, the police must operate within the laws and the citizens must provide the force with adequate resources and good cooperation. Once a police force loses the trust of the population, it is not going to an effective one and society will definitely suffer.

Why am I disappointed that we have another inquiry?
Given that the police have not disclosed that the girl is not Malaysian immediately and cooled the Chinese, I believe it is probably a Chinese foreigner who could have come from any outside country with Chinese such as China, Taiwan, Singapore, Philippines. She could even be Korean or Japanese. After all if you go to the USA, the locals will ask you, “Are you from Vietnam?” or similar country in the area.

I suggest the Foreign Ministry act speedily and get consulate overseas to find the girl and pay her some compensation with the assistance of the local authorities. No need to wait for the findings of the inquiry and this may cool off this particular incident. However, we don’t really know how many other illegals have been abused.


While the “ear squat” highlights what can so easily go wrong in the lock-up, the following is even more disturbing.


Today’s Star provides these grim statistics:

Period under review: 4 years
Lock-up deaths: 80
Inquests: 6

According to the Bar Council, many records were tampered and Lockup Rules 1953 were ignored. Deaths were usually recorded as “Accidental Deaths” and in all cases, an officer from the same police station carried out the investigations.

(This was reported on Sept 4, 2005)

We really need that official complaints system now and let us have one that has real credibility and bite. Otherwise we are really missing the forest for the trees.