It is the responsibility of the police force to police for the community, and not to “moral police the community” especially when it comes to ensuring the safety and security of the people, including all regardless how they dress to make a police report.
The recent statement by the IGP Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani that insisted that public must follow govt dress code at police stations, except in ‘life or death’ emergencies is flawed and irresponsible as as it is the utmost responsibility to serve all regardless of situation.
It must be the first assumption that “all cases is an emergency, whether” life or death” when people walk into the station and should not be barred from entering as no one would go to the police station to lodge police reports unless they have to, as they need police assistance.
It is not only in cases of life and death; it should not matter at all how a person is dressed in any situation. The police should not impose ” perceived morality” which may deny or hinder proper protection or even justice.
What message does it send to the people who they are meant to protect.
I would also like to remind the IGP of the 4th Pillar of Rukun Negara “Kedaulatan Undang-Undang when fact of the matter, it is the law of the country the it is not illegal to dress in certain ways as long it does not expose and breach public indecency.
Thus it is the responsibility of the police to uphold that very law of our country and not impose any other regulations at the police station that may hinder justice.
The lady had to lodge a report because the law compels her to do so. This duty is required regardless of how she dresses. Thus the police have to carry out their duty to.
That is why I urge the IGP to retract his statement and for Ministry to show leadership and give the needed assurance to the people that they will be served and protected regardless of any circumstances or how they dress.
The police should really uphold their motto, “Polis dan masyarakat berpisah tiada” and not “Polis dan masyarakat berpisah tiada, bergantung kepada cara pemakaian”.