POLICE reform was one of the national priorities when Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was prime minister (2003-2009). This led to the formation of the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operations and Management of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) on Feb 4, 2004; the commission concluded its inquiries in 2005. However, the proposed reforms have yet to be fully implemented.
Even the alarm bells that rang following a murder allegedly involving police officers linked to the security of the prime minister of the day did not convince the powers-that-be of the need to hasten reform.
