By Teoh El Sen - Free Malaysia TodayPETALING JAYA: A policewoman who made headlines for dumping her uniform in the trash bin and announcing her resignation to the media is undergoing treatment for mental problems.
Corporal Tai Poh Hiong, 51, who heads the enquiry section at the Selayang police station, is being treated at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre. She has been given a week-long medical leave since Wednesday.
Sources revealed that Tai's record shows that she had been treated by a psychologist in 1998, when she was attached to the administration department in the Sentul district police headquarters.
Even more shocking is the allegation that Tai had smashed the car of an ASP who had reprimanded her about five years ago. She herself had reportedly admitted to this.
Gombak deputy police chief Supt Rosly Hassasn told FMT that there is no decision on any disciplinary action yet, considering Tai's condition.
"We have not decided yet as she is still being treated at the hospital. We are actually trying our best to help her after she completes her treatment.
“According to the doctor, she is being treated for 'unstable mind', " he said, adding that Tai was still a member of the force as no official resignation letter has been submitted.
Police chief: Let her calm down first
Meanwhile, Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said Tai could be under a lot of stress.
“Sometimes police work can be stressful. We will see what her problems are; let her calm down this one week and we will try our best to help her,” he told FMT.
“She has been with the force for many years, and it is only fair that we look at her side of the story as well,” he added.
A police friend of Tai, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told FMT that he was shocked when he first heard the news.
"I knew her as she was always at the front desk and we would chat occasionally. The last time I spoke to her she told me that she does not want to work aymore, but I didn't know it would turn out like this.
"It is such a waste. She was a policewoman for 28 years. She could have chosen an early retirement and not hand in a '24-hour resignation',” he said.
“She would have at least got some 60% of what she is earning now each month. Why did she act this way?” he added.
Commenting on her complaint that she lost about RM500 in allowances when she was transferred to the Gombak police station some 20 months ago, he said this was normal.
"Actually, she can apply for new allowances and it would usually be approved. Those first few months that went unpaid would be reimbursed, so it's no issue," he said.
"As for me, I feel that she was a little bit unstable. I am not a doctor, just a colleague and I think there was too much pressure.
“Not everyone can work in certain departments and the enquiry section requires one to attend to many calls each day," said the friend, who added that Tai was a “friendly but serious lady”.
'Lost 20kg in 20 months'
Earlier this week, Chinese dailies reported that Tai had resigned from the police force in a dramatic move that included throwing her uniform in a dustbin and calling for a press conference on Monday.
She had reportedly said:"I am finally free. I’m not a policewoman anymore!”
She had cited unhappiness with the hectic workload and little increment. Tai also said she had lost RM500 travel and communication allowances when she was promoted from a lance corporal in Sentul to a corporal and transferred to Gombak.
Tai also claimed that she had lost 20kg (from 65kg to 45kg) in the 20 months working at the Gombak police district headquarters.
She also cited witnessing close friends suffering permanent injuries or even being killed in the line of duty and felt that the pay does not make up for the risks.
Numerous attempts by FMT to contact Tai failed.
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