If the people are serious about restoring the credibility of the police force then a change in government is necessary, said a former senior policeman.

NONE This, said former Kota Kinabalu OCPD Mohd Yousoff Babjee ( left ), was because there is too much political interference in the police force presently.

“I feel there should not be any political interference (in the police force).

“Because of political interference, we find it hard to carry out (our duties).

“To heal it (the force) I feel we have to change the government,” he said.

 "We can arrest this person, we cannot arrest that person. This person can be charged, that person we cannot charge," lamented Mohd Yousoff.

The former deputy police commissioner was speaking at a forum ‘Discussing National Sovereignty and National Security' in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur last night.

He said it was regrettable that police personnel today were seen to be biased in carrying out their duties.

They are well trained, he said, but shrink when they "receive instructions" resulting in failure to act against violence at political ceramah and attacks against political party offices.

"I wonder why the police did not act (against the troublemakers), who gave the instructions?

He said this was unfair as the police did not do anything, such as in the case where the PKR head office was attacked with stones and eggs.

"The police station is just next door, but I am ashamed (that they did not act)," he said.

Last Monday pro-BN groups staged a violent protest in front of  the PKR’ headquarters in Petaling Jaya, threatening to burn it down.

The Tropicana police station is two blocks away from the PKR building.

“There must have been an order (to not interfere), otherwise the police would not have behaved like that. They have been trained (to handle such situations).

“How is it that they can become such that they are too timid to take action?” he asked.

‘Perception matters in fighting crime ’

Mohd Yousoff also touched on the much discussed national crime situation, saying the people’s perception was more important in crime fighting efforts than statistics.

“The success (in reducing crime) should by right be felt by the people themselves, whether we, our children and families feel safe or not.

“If we feel safe, only then have the police succeeded. It’s not just because the police say so,” he said.

NONE He said the people’s opinion of the safety of their surroundings has not improved much from the past, but their confidence in the police to tackle crime has in fact worsened.

Meanwhile, another panellist former deputy commander of the armed forces lieutenant general Abdul Ghaffir Abdul Hamid slammed the government for taking offence with his criticisms of the way Lahad Datu armed intrusion was handled.

Abdul Ghaffir had earlier said the government could have ended the intrusion earlier had clear orders been issued.

Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had reportedly criticised Ghafir’s comment saying the latter had no experience in armed conflict.

The deputy commander, however, begged to differ, saying, “when I was in the force, I served in fighting the communist terrorists in the jungles of Perak.”

He said he had even led an army battalion in Namibia.

 Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had reportedly criticised Ghafir’s comment saying the latter had no experience in armed conflict.

The deputy commander, however ,begged to differ, saying, “when I was in the force, I served in fighting the communist terrorists in the jungles of Perak.”

He said he had even led an army battalion in Namibia.