There is such a thing as constructive criticism

By Xavier Kong

Criticism is one pill that can be admittedly hard to swallow. However, Tiger points out the old saying that you know the medicine is working when you taste how bitter it is. Still, how could the patient clap the source of the bitter medicine in irons?

Tiger has always marveled at the swift response of the Royal Malaysian Police in terms of dealing with the online world. At a time when the government itself is still striving to not make such gaffes as saying “met Mark Zuckerberg at Twitter HQ!” or further shooting themselves in the foot by acknowledging that “I have three jobs”, the police have been very on-the-ball, helmed by Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar with his vigilance on Facebook, as well as on the Twitterverse.

In this Tiger’s opinion, having law enforcement actively engaging in social media, which stands as a fast-growing avenue of communication, is a sign of adapting to change. This represents the perfect opportunity for the police to be able to arrest miscreants and malcontents intent on tarnishing the good name of the government and the police themselves.

Look towards the recent case of the businesswoman from Kluang, Johor. The police were able to apprehend the perpetrator in a swift and decisive move, backed only by the evidence of the woman’s post. Of course, when the police are just that efficient and trustworthy, that there is absolutely no need to check the claims that her son was beaten up by the police, who had also asked him for money. This is most definitely a slanderous, heinous smear on the good name of our law enforcement personnel.

There is absolutely no way that this woman’s allegations could be true, considering the upstanding nature and model behaviour of Malaysia’s finest. It is not as though there is a history of such cases happening that involve the Royal Malaysian Police. As such, it is indicatively clear why there was no investigation into the claims.

At the same time, the police should also be lauded for their painstaking care of the public’s view of them. Considering they should be role models by which the society measures itself, this is a move that definitely deserves praise, considering the amount of damage that could have been done to the good name of the Royal Malaysian Police by the woman’s post on social media (which this Tiger has not yet found).

However, is there not a way for our illustrious police force to make use of social media? As much as this Tiger would like to believe, the Royal Malaysian Police just cannot be everywhere at once. On the other hand, social media can. Just think about it. The moment someone is mugged or robbed, or if a fight or accident happens, where is it immediately heard? That’s right, social media.

Could the police, in monitoring social media to help safeguard the public from the dangers of their own words (a noble undertaking) not also safeguard the public from genuine threats and crimes as well? By keeping an eye on social media for reports on accidents or snatch-thefts or even break-ins, police should be able to respond in a speedier manner, and would actually lower the chance of the perpetrator getting away, which in turn frees up the police force to focus on larger threats to the safety of Malaysians, such as this whole terrorist business.

Of course, this means that the police should encourage the use of social media to alert the police to crimes in progress, or to allow a crime to be reported. This means, however, that cases like the businesswoman in Kluang are to be treated in a different manner than immediate incarceration. Rather, would it not allow the organisation to weed out the bad apples among the force that taint the good name of the Royal Malaysian Police?

As such, the public should be encouraged to report such occurrences. While it may be an upsetting reveal in the beginning, it can only benefit the organisation and the rakyat as a whole in the long run. If the rakyat were to get locked down or incarcerated every time a report or complaint about the police is made on social media, the rakyat will lose trust in the police force, which may result in less crime being reported.

All Tiger is saying is that the Royal Malaysian Police has taken strides in adopting technology. Tiger only asks that they finish walking the path, and not stop where it remains convenient for them.

GRRRRR!!!