The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion
The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion |
| Posted: 30 Oct 2012 04:57 PM PDT OCT 31 ― "Kami polis. Kami boleh tanya, tahan dan tangkap siapa saja." (We're policemen. We can interrogate, detain and arrest whomever.) All M (she asked I not mention her name) wanted to know was why the two policemen on motorcycles were asking for her ID. It was a rainy night, M was driving. She saw a motorcyclist in her way and honked. He might not have seen her; she just wanted to make sure. She was being careful, she thought. The next thing M knew, two men on motorcycles were flanking her car. One of them berated her for honking at him. She explained why she did so and also pointed out that she had right of way.
She asked if she could call her friend, a senior police officer, for advice. "Panggilah, saya takut apa?" (Call, then, what have I got to be afraid of?) M called her friend. Her friend wanted the policemen's names and numbers. And, suddenly, the "fearless" policemen were too afraid to identify themselves. They lied to M's friend on the phone, saying they only "wanted to help" her. In the end, the policemen went away leaving a very shaken M. M was lucky. Few of us can call up a senior ranked cop for help when being harassed by rogue members of the force. Thing is, we shouldn't even have to deal with it in the first place. There are decent cops. I've met them. But at the same time, we've all heard the stories or encountered "bad cops." Cops who ask for bribes. Cops who steal. Cops who turn a blind eye to crime or pretend to be too busy with paperwork to attend to crime reports. We are afraid of our policemen, for all the wrong reasons. To be honest, they scare me too. I've gone to make a police report and was ignored by the cop on duty because he thought I was a Filipina. It took me brandishing my IC at him for him to take me seriously. Then there were the cops who wanted to solicit bribes from me or make me get in a police car, all because they mistook me for a foreign worker. The cops need to be held accountable for the rogues in their ranks. They need to make it mandatory to show their identification numbers at all times. If a cop refuses to give his name and ID numbers, it shouldn't be a crime for a Malaysian to ignore him. The reality is that there are cops who are bullies. But when a policeman asks you to pull over, don't automatically assume he intends to harass you. Maybe your signal lights died. Your bumper or identification plate fell off. Give the policeman the benefit of the doubt. But when it's clear the "policeman" you're dealing is problematic, here's what you can do: 1. If you're in a car, don't get out. Roll down the window slightly (not enough for the rogue cop to reach in and grab you) and ask for identification. Even if they furnish it and ask you to follow them, insist on driving to a nearby station. If you're a woman, there are real risks to you stepping into a policeman's car if his intentions are unclear. 2. Keep your mobile phone and call people. Tell family, friends where you are and who you're with. Take pictures. Use social media: Tweet and post pictures to Facebook, if you can. 3. If you're on foot and don't have the safety of a vehicle to retreat to, remain calm. Make calls but don't run. If you're unlucky, you might be dealing with a poorly trained, trigger-happy policeman who will use "resisting arrest" as an excuse to shoot you. It's your word against theirs and your running from policemen will be used against you. 4. Resist the urge to be flippant, rude or confrontational. Policemen are public servants but they are not your coolies. Talking down to them doesn't do you any favours and will just make the situation worse. Even in developed countries like the US and UK, they do have problems with rogue policemen who do not respect procedure. Don't assume all policemen are that way but at the same time, be prepared to deal with those who are. At the very least, every Malaysian should have some number they can call to get help if they're being bullied by cops acting questionably. Question is: Will the phone ever stop ringing? * The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist. |
| Posted: 30 Oct 2012 04:52 PM PDT OCT 31 ― Indonesia is very much a Pramoedya Ananta Toer novel come to life. Jakarta may be the rich capital, the more sophisticated sister, but to experience true Indonesian life, one has to live outside of Jakarta, and in the provinces. It is through living among her people that you learn that Indonesia is like a beautiful woman who knows the power of her beauty and is cruel about it, with her admirers and enemies. "I disagree," an old friend who works as a healthcare consultant said. I have been lucky for almost every week, a friend or two flying into Java for work. My consultant friend and I were having dinner at ViaVia Café, situated in the Bangsar of Jogjakarta, Jalan Prawirotaman. Let's put it this way: Jalan Prawirotaman is the poorer version of Bangsar or Bali. It is popular among students and tourists. "I liken Indonesia to a worn, old woman. She used to be beautiful, but all the hardship she faced has worn out her children, her gardens, her wealth," he continued. It was a rough week in Java. I was already in the throes of a beast of a flu: never had I ever encountered such vileness. But I was elated as my trip to Pekalongan was a success. My friend was strung out by the work he had to face. The organisation had made very little inroads into Java, despite its escalating social problems. It had taken his bosses and him three years to crack the Javanese. It was only now that their local staff would deign to socialise with them outside of consultations. I was reminded of my cleaner's words prior to my departure. "Ha. We Surabayans and Madurese are a bit different. What you see is what you get. We are rough. If this is what we offer, this is what you get. Take it or leave it." "What about the Javanese?" I had asked. "Those from Solo and Jogja. Mereka berhalus ya, mam. Tertib. They're very cultured. But they are like pythons. Beautiful to look at, but once they have you in their grip, they will cheat you left and right. Their tongues are as smooth as the python's." "Indah khabar dari rupa?" "Ya, mam." That night, we shared a beca and toured around the city. I have always felt that Jogja's real self appeared at night. It's a quiet town, but somehow, somewhere, in a corner, life happens, and a bleak life it is. We passed by a young man leaning against a lamppost; tired or drunk? No one knew. Little warongs with canvas sheets for walls reveal three generations of a family living there. They eat, pray and made love there, in full view of their family members. I would like to think that perhaps "copulate" is a better word. To survive in this country, whether you are a national or an expatriate, is to not romanticise Indonesia. You'd be crazy to do so. So copulate it is. Jogjakarta is a city of travellers. Hundreds of years ago, it was the epicentre of Hinduism and the Javanese religion. When Islam arrived, agama kejaweng faced some resistance ― the Javanese were and still are proud of their culture. Marrying the old and a new religion, syncretism is now part of the ordinary Javanese's life. So far. * The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist. |
Again, he spouted the "I'm a cop and can arrest anyone" spiel.| You are subscribed to email updates from The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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