‘Meet Police Day should be consistent’

PETALING JAYA: While setting a day for the public to meet police heads directly is a good move, it must be consistent, crime awareness groups say.

MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong said such a move is not new.

A similar initiative, he said, was held sporadically and inconsistently.

“It has been done on and off in the past – for example, when a Rukun Tetangga in an area calls in the OCPD (officer-in-charge of the police district) for a meeting.

“In those meetings, the public could directly bring matters to the OCPD. They used to be held by invitation,” he said.

Chong said that any move to improve the relationship between the public and the police is a move in the right direction.

“The police and public must be in contact and maintain good communications between them. This will lead to a better relationship,” he said.

While Chong is all for the initiative, he said that he would also prefer a permanent officer to be in charge of such matters in all district headquarters.

“Maybe you can set a counter staffed by a senior officer. Make it like a one-stop centre for the public who would want to check on such matters.

“Even for my side, when victims come to this department, I will still need to contact the police on the issue as well. This will help all sides and is just more effective for all,” he said.

Malaysians Against Rape, Assault and Snatch Theft founder Dave Avran said this new initiative should not end up becoming a mere “PR exercise”.

“If they can keep it up, that is great. You need the consistency or else it wouldn’t work,” he said.

He expressed his worry that down the line, the meetings would be delegated to others or “fizzle out” completely.