MUSA Hassan's job is not one we want to envy these days. It's sure tough being the nation's top cop during these trying times for the police force.

There must have been times Musa is wishing that he could trade places with his younger sibling, Jalaluddin Hassan, as the host of 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' (whatever happened to the Malaysian version of the popular game show?) which was once ntv7's number one prime time game show.

The host's duty is to 'scare' contestants into changing their answers and turn their nerves into mush. Apart from having to dress immaculately and putting on interchangeably stoic and funny faces, Jalaluddin can relax comfortably without pressure on his seat as it is unlikely that any of the contestants will be walking away with a million ringgit. So far, the highest prize won is only RM125,000.

But for Jalaluddin's tai koh , Musa, life's just the opposite! In fact, the massive task and responsibility on Musa's shoulders could very well 'scare' his younger sibling off and, possibly, cause the flamboyant movie actor to wet his pants in the process too.

Musa's job is not just having to 'scare' off one contestant after another, week after week. It's about having to put the fear of God into thugs and brigands and they are increasing in numbers by the day. It's about having more than 80,000 men and women under your command and a nation of some 25 million to protect and secure.

Not a peaceful hill

At this point in time, I can guess that not many police officers want to be the IGP. The pressures on the force to deliver are mounting and the people are getting restless with the soaring crime index.

Musa's office may be located majestically on Bukit Aman but the hill has not been living up to its name of late.

Come to think of it, the 'Hill of Peace' where the national police headquarters is housed and named after in the heart of Kuala Lumpur had hardly seen any peace for quite some years now - I would say ever since that fateful night in 1998 when a former deputy prime minister was given a black eye by none other than the serving IGP in a Bukit Aman cell.

In fact, we can safely assume that after the two-decade relatively calm tenure of Hanif Omar as the IGP, his successors had been through trying times at the helm of [PDRM] His Majesty's Police Force.

Hanif was indeed one lucky devil! He had also set an unassailable record in Malaysia's modern police history. I believe we will never see another 35-year-old police officer becoming the IGP. I also believe no serving IGP will ever have the luxury again of going on study leave [to read law] like Hanif did.

Because of a singular error in judgement and losing his cool when provoked, Hanif's successor will go down in history as the samseng IGP. I doubt Malaysians can ever forget what that chap did to a hapless man who, a week earlier at that time, was holding a position which was just a heart beat from the premiership. His victim had said that he could forgive his assailant but could never forget that episode.

Mounting pressures

Norian Mai then succeeded his samseng boss but his short tenure was beset with allegations of police abuse and deaths in police custody. Many thought that Norian should have remained in the Special Branch where he excelled in doing his job quietly and yes, literally 'out of sight'.

Poor Bakri Omar! Musa Hassan might praise his former boss sky-high at his farewell parade but an unforgiving public will best remember Bakri for being indecisive on the IPCMC issue - and, not forgetting, the embarrassment his wayward son caused him over 'a stall for hire' incident during one Hari Raya.

For Musa Hassan today, the road ahead will be long and tough, the journey arduous and thankless. But as long as he occupies that seat in Bukit Aman, Musa has to soldier on. He must also realise that giving his best ain't enough; he must give his all!

The pressures continue to mount. As he flew back from Sarawak where he went to judge for himself the extent of the gangsterism problems in the state, bad news were waiting for him at Bukit Aman - the Internal Security Ministry wants the police to explain a 40 percent surge in crime this year in Kuala Lumpur. Crimes reported on the rise include bag snatch thefts, gambling and vice activities including prostitution.

That the Sibu gangster problems were brought up by Bintulu MP Tiong King Sing in Parliament made everyone sit up. Musa must be applauded for swinging into action almost immediately. Sarawak CP Talib Jamal was also shaken and he would probably have realised by now that policing a state is totally different from running a cooperative.

Tiong also alleged widespread corruption in the police force while Musa had revealed possible 'ties' between the underworld and local VIPs and politicians in Sibu.

My gut feeling tells me that there is a lot of truth in this 'ties' speculation. Somehow, gangsters 'love' politicians, though not necessarily vice-versa. This relationship is very obvious during elections. Politicians generally will try to avoid antagonizing the gangsters during an electoral campaign and many utilised them as campaign workers. Our cops could do well to watch out for this in Machap this week

After the elections, this 'relationship' will mature into something else and hence, the speculation that some gangs have business connections or a "special understanding" with local VIPs. I'm sure Musa is aware that it is not mere speculation.

I was also taken aback to hear a senior Customs officer lamented how he and his men have to be escorted by armed soldiers whenever they conduct raids against smugglers. This goes to show the immense power wielded by criminals in our country. It's real scary to know that the crooks in our midst are so well organised and 'protected' that they seem to fear no one.

Back him on IPCMC

Let me appeal to the IGP to leave no stone unturned in his rejuvenated mission to crush secret societies in Sibu. He must be courageous enough to haul up all those responsible, including VIPs, who have been responsible for making the lives of Sibu residents so miserable.

The nation's top cop must realise that public confidence and faith in the Malaysian Police Force is at its lowest at the moment and there are good reasons why this is so.

Finally, Musa must get his whole department to back him on the IPCMC issue.

It has become increasingly clear that the majority of Malaysians are behind Pak Lah in his quest to reform the police force and they are backing the IPCMC. Malaysians, in general, think it is high time genuine reforms are carried out in the police force and the time is now.

The IPCMC is primarily to enhance the image of the police force, improve its credibility, encourage transparency and accountability and more importantly to help the force in reforming itself to face the challenges of a civil society that is maturing in its political confidence, aware of its rights and influenced by global trends.

The IGP and his men may have their ego and autonomy to protect but the rights of people like you and me and particularly those who have been abused by the police are more important and more worthy of protection than the oversized ego of a small group of police officers.

I sincerely hope that Bukit Aman will receive this message loud and clear.

Like Musa Hassan and his officers who operate from Bukit Aman, it is also my fervent wish that the "Hill of Peace" may soon be able to live up to its name of tranquillity, peace and respect again.