KUCHING: The State Reform Party (STAR) supports the proposal by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador to give priority to the salaries of lower ranked police personnel salaries, logistics and requirements in efforts to enhance the integrity of the police force.
When contacted by New Sarawak Tribune to comment on the issue, STAR president Lina Soo said, “The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) plays a vital role in the stability and integrity of the nation by upholding law, public order and security.”
She further explained that a police constable might take home a salary of RM1,200 per month and he had to pay for motorcycle or car loan, utilities, healthcare and education needs of his wife and children on top of providing three square meals for the family.
“This is indeed living below poverty level,” said Soo, noting that salaries of lower ranked police personnel were the lowest in the region compared to those in Brunei, Singapore and Indonesia.
She also pointed out that it was very brave of the IGP to suggest higher salaries could minimise temptations to commit crime in order to earn extra money, thus implying that poverty might be directly linked to corruption.
Delving into the historical perspective, Soo claimed that the low salaries of lower ranked police personnel were locked in at RM800 during the rule of the fourth Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“Can it then be said low salaries in part contributed to the culture of corruption which took root during this era?
“Have the early years of entrapment with low salaries and tacit acceptance by higher authorities at the prevailing time led to corruption becoming an entrenched practice?” she asked.
Soo said that if the corruption had become endemic, then increasing the salaries alone might not be the answer as the heads of the cartel(s) within who protect the corrupted police must be taken down too by weeding out the root of the problem.
“To strike fear into the hearts of rogue police who operate a clandestine system of corruption to enrich themselves, the IGP must spare no efforts to clean up and wipe out the corruption within the police force,” stressed Soo.
