YOURSAY ‘A total revamp and separation from Umno control would be the necessary steps to turn the force back into professionals, as well as to regain their respect ...'

your say Rojak: The government should recognise the sense and sincerity in Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim's questions on police personnel allocation and his suggestions to improve the force, or supply a reasoned and comprehensive rebuttal if they have one.

Crime should never be a party political issue, let alone a tool of political strategisation, but something on which all politicians should cooperate to their utmost in order to improve security and reassure an increasingly alarmed rakyat.

What4: BN Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, take whatever advice or proposal if it is good. Do not be arrogant or just refuse to accept because he or she is in Pakatan Rakyat.

Be serious in fighting crime. Since you take the minister's position, it is your duty to perform, otherwise just resign.

Well Thats Fantastic: We need to have both a federal police and a state police, each controlled by the PM and MB respectively with well-defined responsibilities.

This police force under one roof is not working, and won't ever work properly because the vast difference in roles that state and federal police play.

Ok ok ok ok ok: Great suggestions by the Bukit Mertajam MP. Hope the higher ups can comprehend what you are saying. In the meantime, all Malaysians should be prepared to protect themselves and their properties from "the brave and brazen criminals".

Iwatch: Don't daydream the one high up will consider the proposals unless there is a change of federal government. There is no choice, but the rakyat have got to take care of themselves in this cowboy town era.

Bamboo: A very good summary of what's wrong with the police force. The refusal to divulge the numbers of Special Branch officers reveals that there's something to hide by the government.

As we know, the police have been turned into a political tool to spy and harass the opposition and dissenting NGOs instead of fighting crime.

1Malaysian: Does anyone in Umno have any integrity and conscience to stand up and say that the police also have to follow the laws of the land?

Headhunter: The police force's reputation is where it is today because it has been Umno-ised. They are acting like Umno goons instead of professionals like they once did in the past.

Increasing the number of officers in the force and giving them more equipment are not the answers.

A total revamp and separation from Umno control would be the necessary steps to free themselves and turn the force back into professionals, as well as to regain their respect and trust from the rakyat. There's no other way.

Hero325: My contention is very simple the people need the police to improve, and the people must encourage the police to move in to combat crime. There is no need to blame the police all the time.

For political gain, the opposition leaders are talking like they can replace the police force.

Progressive: Everyone is missing the wood for the trees. The crux of the matter is that the existing staff are not pulling their weight. They are not doing their job. There are more than 100,000 police personnel and you will not find them in your streets or neighbourhood.

The police are using all kinds of excuses like the repeal Emergency Ordinance (EO) and inadequate staff as a smokescreen to cover up their inefficiency and lazy behaviour.

Put a non police as the inspector general of police or adviser to transform the police force. There's no other way.

TehTarik: It appears that the primary objective of PDRM is to protect Umno and its cronies. Protecting the safety of the rakyat is a distant second.

That's why the overwhelming majority of police manpower is assigned to internal security and the Special Branch. Less than 10 percent is directly involved in fighting crime.

The politicising of PDRM began during the era of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and today has gone to the point of no return. The danger of reintroducing EO is that PDRM will misuse it for the interest of Umno.

SenyumUnta: Other than manpower issues, it seems like the various security agencies are not in sync and are muddled up in the main scope and responsibilities when our nation faces various threats internally and externally.

If we face threats or attacks from the sky, do we send our PDRM?

Hajile Leumas: I agree with one of the restructuring recommendations, which is increasing more police on the street and reduce desk jobs. The ratio should be reversed, ie. Five police personnel on the street to one on a desk job.

Also reduce bureaucracy, improve processes and reduce paperwork by using computers and technology.

Kamaapo: No, 'they' wont like any good suggestions, ho matter how good they may be for the nation and the rakyat. Time and time again it's been proven. They only try to do that which is 'beneficial' and expedient for themselves.

A very good example is their extreme abhorrence for the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC). Even such a strong recommendation by a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) can be thrown into the dustbin. Why set up the RCI in the first place, wasting millions in taxpayers' money?

Our democracy has not matured to that level yet for it is a must for the powers that be to answer this critical question.

Even if raised in our Parliament it will never see the answer. Even in countries like Thailand, the Philippines or Indonesia the ruling governments nowadays can't easily escape answering such important questions.

Lovegives: Whatever you can do or however much you can spend, things will only get worse as the leaders in the police don't have what it takes to make the force effective and efficient.

So it is not the police force that needs to be rebuffed, but the system of governance.

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now .