Malay Mail
We can't put someone in a black maria just because he or she wears a black shirt, hold a lit candle, or refuse to eat anything. Can we? This will be too weird!
Black shirts are also shirts. As long as their bodies are adequately covered, we cannot say they are indecent. Perhaps some old people might grumble out of taboo, but that is almost all people could ever react.
Lighting up a candle is not blasting firecrackers, and the action will pose absolutely no danger of any sort to the public.
As for food, we have more than a hundred reasons not to eat: slimming, detoxification, fasting, anorexia, poor appetite, saving money, etc. Whatever the reason, that again is individual freedom.
Do we need to take things that seriously, mobilising a huge squad of cops to lift them up the police vans?
Right. Those people have their own reasons for wearing black, lighting candles or going on hunger strike, such as to uphold democracy, fight for human rights, or protest against the government.
And we cannot pack them inside the black maria just because they say they want to uphold democracy, defend their rights, or disagree with the government.
Frankly speaking, each time these people are sent into the police vans, I could still see smiles on their faces.
Who should be happy? Who should be regretful? Who has been penalised, and who has been rewarded?
It is not so hard to get the answer.
In the gossips of the people, the image of the Royal Malaysian Police suffers yet another major flop.
Perhaps the police are not aware how Malaysians in general think. Perhaps they don't even bother, for they are not elected by the people. All they need is to be answerable to the government.
But lest we forget, our government is an elected organ!
Or perhaps the Royal Malaysian Police should consider hiring some image consultants. Not to sport stylish and glamorous uniforms, but to appear more people-friendly so that they could be more easily accepted, trusted and approached by the rakyat.
The police force must also change their strategies in order to spare themselves from becoming the target of public consensus.
Most importantly, the police must revert back to their professional obligations: battle crime, protect the people, and stay away from politics, the further the better.
They should stay away from that catch-and-release game. Just leave that to their kids! (By TAY TIAN YAN/Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)
I HAVE lost count how many people have actually been put in a black maria, driven to the police stations, and sent into the lock-ups within the past few weeks.
Of course, I am not talking about those despicable criminals, for their arrests will invariably invite commendations on the police's efficiency.
I am talking about those wearing black shirts, lighting candles, and refusing to eat.Of course, I am not talking about those despicable criminals, for their arrests will invariably invite commendations on the police's efficiency.
We can't put someone in a black maria just because he or she wears a black shirt, hold a lit candle, or refuse to eat anything. Can we? This will be too weird!
Black shirts are also shirts. As long as their bodies are adequately covered, we cannot say they are indecent. Perhaps some old people might grumble out of taboo, but that is almost all people could ever react.
Lighting up a candle is not blasting firecrackers, and the action will pose absolutely no danger of any sort to the public.
As for food, we have more than a hundred reasons not to eat: slimming, detoxification, fasting, anorexia, poor appetite, saving money, etc. Whatever the reason, that again is individual freedom.
Do we need to take things that seriously, mobilising a huge squad of cops to lift them up the police vans?
Right. Those people have their own reasons for wearing black, lighting candles or going on hunger strike, such as to uphold democracy, fight for human rights, or protest against the government.
And we cannot pack them inside the black maria just because they say they want to uphold democracy, defend their rights, or disagree with the government.
Frankly speaking, each time these people are sent into the police vans, I could still see smiles on their faces.
Who should be happy? Who should be regretful? Who has been penalised, and who has been rewarded?
It is not so hard to get the answer.
In the gossips of the people, the image of the Royal Malaysian Police suffers yet another major flop.
Perhaps the police are not aware how Malaysians in general think. Perhaps they don't even bother, for they are not elected by the people. All they need is to be answerable to the government.
But lest we forget, our government is an elected organ!
Or perhaps the Royal Malaysian Police should consider hiring some image consultants. Not to sport stylish and glamorous uniforms, but to appear more people-friendly so that they could be more easily accepted, trusted and approached by the rakyat.
The police force must also change their strategies in order to spare themselves from becoming the target of public consensus.
Most importantly, the police must revert back to their professional obligations: battle crime, protect the people, and stay away from politics, the further the better.
They should stay away from that catch-and-release game. Just leave that to their kids! (By TAY TIAN YAN/Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)
No comments:
Post a Comment