Who watches the uniformed men?

“HARAPKAN pagar, pagar makan padi”: This popular Malay saying typifies the predicament that Malaysia faces today.

In essence, it can be compared to Roman poet Juvenal who asked, “Who watches the watchmen?” when he questioned the integrity of guards posted to ensure his wife’s fidelity.

Our uniformed personnel should have the highest integrity because they are entrusted by the people via the government of the day to ensure that laws are upheld. Sadly, public perception paints a very different picture.

It is no secret, given the number of times the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) has acted, that our uniformed authorities are particularly prone to corruption.

Corruption and abuse of power involving the police, Immigration, Customs, Road Transport Department and even MACC staff themselves, have all been brought to light – to the extent that there has been a loss of trust in these personnel.

It is still a long road for Malaysia in its fight against the endemic corruption that has gripped the country. This pestilence has seeped through not only the political class but every layer of society as well. And if there isn’t a collective will on our part to fight it, the country will continue to suffer.

You know the rot is deep when no less a personage than the Prime Minister has called for investigations of graft into two government departments (Immigration and National Registration) in successive days.

Yet, if you take a step back, Malaysia is a successful trillion-ringgit economy for all intents and purposes. We are at the forefront in terms of the global value chain for edible oil, gloves and semiconductors. We have some world-class companies contributing to the economy, domestically and regionally.

The hope is that Putrajaya will bring about meaningful and permanent reform. And one of the most fundamental reforms we need today is governance, particularly of all our men and women in uniform.

The temptation to accept bribes is rife among our enforcement authorities, and only a zero tolerance of corruption will change the way we operate.

The recent change at the top of the Royal Malaysia Police is a step in the right direction. The appointments of Tan Sri Razarudin Husain as the new Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay as the deputy IGP, show that Putrajaya is serious about tackling the lack of integrity in the force.

Public expectations are high because both are no-nonsense cops who have a track record of exposing recalcitrant subordinates and fighting graft.

They have their work cut out for them, however, because external influences in the police force run deep.

Politicians, underworld figures and other illegal businesses have for too long exerted unwarranted interference in this institution.

The Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC), which came into force six days ago, is still awaiting approval for staffing and allocations to set up the commission.

The IPCC was set up as an independent external oversight body for the police force, but it appears to be a watered-down version of the Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), an initiative that has long been demanded by civil society to deal with allegations of police misconduct, including custodial deaths.

Now more than ever, as cases of graft are at an all-time high, we need external, independent oversight bodies for all uniformed enforcement agencies to prevent largesse and abuse of power.

These commissions can work hand in hand with Parliamentary Select Committees as a check and balance for these departments.

A case in point is the recent brouhaha at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Immigration checkpoint that should not be swept under the carpet.

The department is conducting an internal investigation and the MACC is also probing the claims by a Chinese tourist that she was asked for bribes to allow her to enter this country.

But this accusation of corruption by the immigration officers at KLIA may yet turn out to be unfounded, and fingers will then be pointed at the tourism minister who created the controversy in the first place.

However, it should be emphasised that the security and integrity of our land, sea and air borders are of paramount importance. Security leaks at KLIA in 2016 led the Immigration Department to sack 15, suspend 14 and freeze the increments of eight rogue officers.

The department’s director-general at that time revealed that syndicates in cahoots with crooked immigration officers had amassed billions of ringgit by facilitating human trafficking. Many blacklisted foreigners had gained entry and the breach of security may have also allowed suspected terrorists to freely move in and out of the country.

Malaysian taxpayers have a right to know the findings of investigations into this incident. What steps have been taken to ensure that the weaknesses in KLIA’s immigration system have been rectified?

And, more importantly, is an oversight system in place to ensure that bribe-taking will not be tolerated?

It is now incumbent on the government to institute checks and balances in the form of oversight for uniformed enforcement personnel. If not now, when?