A Start But Not Enough

• 9 February 2019
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The announcement by the Home Minister that replacements for the IGP and his deputy (said to be both retiring shortly) makes a start to the long overdue process of cleaning up the PDRM and must be welcomed as such.

But this is far from enough to deal with the chronic malaise existing within the PDRM for many years. Nothing, for instance, has yet been done about the former IG who so disgracefully abused his office and the reputation of the PDRM. Nor about other still serving senior officers whose conduct verges on, or is actually, criminal.

Various remedies for the malaise in the PDRM can be canvassed including an RCI but nothing effective is likely to happen without fundamental reform of the Force including bringing it back to its role as guardian of public peace and order and restoring its badly battered reputation. None of the senior officers who will remain after the iGP and his deputy leave the scene are remotely likely, or even qualified, to do that.

Those responsible for the Force should instead institute a far-ranging enquiry into all aspects of its work, including fitness of existing senior officers for command, and find someone one who can sort things out and restore respect for and the good name of the PDRM.

That would be a difficult task due to the climate of fear and tolerance of official misbehaviour that has for far too long stigmatised the leadership of the PDRM. But it should and must be undertaken. Now.