DAP chief Lim Kit Siang's obsession with the misquoted police-to-population ratio is understandable, but he should also realise that nothing much can be achieved even if the inspector-general of police was to make a correction.

The police force needs to undergo a total realignment of its outlook, priority, sense of duty and responsibility and approach to combatting crime and enforcing law and order. To a certain extent, an even deployment of police personnel and resources especially in urban areas may help but what is more important is the necessary mindset shift of our police force.

First, our police force can be more service oriented and people friendly. To be fair, some of the police personnel in selected neighbourhoods have been very cooperative with the residents in organising safety patrols and campaigns.

The police were also helpful in assisting resident associations in planning basic safety measures and conduct awareness workshops on safety and crime prevention. These public empowerment activities should continue to receive support from the police and the government.

However, on many occasions, the police have been found to be obstructive and manipulative especially when victims of snatch theft or other petty crime went to file their report on lost of critical documents.

One of my friends who recently suffered a similar predicament when two assailants snatched her bag outside her house in the Old Klang Road area was advised by the police to file her report as 'missing' or ' keciciran ' because the police station she went to could not undertake a report on theft or robbery and she would have to go to another police station to do so. Not wanting additional problems, she went ahead with the advice.

The police should ensure such an outrageous practice and any others be replaced with more practical and friendly procedures which are logical and practical. It is normal for victims to approach the nearest police station for assistance or to file a police report. The police must then make all efforts to assist the victim or complainant with the proper advice and recommendation.

Next, the police should also display a proper code of ethics and their service charter visibly in all police service centres so that the public are aware of the services guaranteed to them and their rights of protection and basic security from the police.

A help line can also be made available at every police station if a victim or complainant wants to make confirmation that he or she has been given the right treatment or recommendation by the police officer at the station.

DAP proposal to enlarge and increase the intake of women police officers to assist women deal with sex crime is laudable but emphasis should also be placed on recruiting qualified candidates who are able to assist sexual victims at the psychological level and have the ability to understand and address their trauma. A special team should at least be made available to handle any cases at the district level.

Apart from achieving greater women representation in the police force, I also urge the Home Ministry to look into the possibility of enhancing racial mix in the force so that it is more representative of the society it serves. The police force should not be allowed to become too monolithic especially when it is also to serve the security interests and needs of other communal groups.

It is estimated that in the public sector there are at least 80 percent bumiputera personnel, or four of every five civil servants in the country although they form 65.1 percent of the country's population in 2000, thus enjoying a significant over-representation of about 15 percent.

As reported in the paper by Dr Lim Hong Hai on ' The Representativeness of the Bureaucracy in Malaysia: The Problems of Public Administration in a Plural Society ', bumiputera over-representation would be even higher if the police and military services were taken into consideration.

His paper also quoted on an investigative report by a local newspaper, "about 90 percent of the 980, 995 strong civil service, including the police, armed forces and local authorities, are made up of bumiputeras."

I would also like to stress that the reference made to emphasise the need of greater diversity in the police force is not concocted with any racist intent but to make a point that the public service must be part of, and not apart from, the society it serves.

The police force must not only reflect the full diversity of society but also be strengthened by that diversity. Hence, the call for greater diversity also includes gender, racial and functional aspects.

Since the taxpayers are paying the salaries, we have the right to know what steps are being taken by the police to realign their strategy to provide more efficient services. We also have the right to demand that our diverse needs and interests are well guarded and understood.