KUALA LUMPUR: The arrest of five policemen in Melaka - one a deputy superintendent (DSP) - for allegedly running a ketum-processing scheme, has sparked questions if their bosses in the Melaka state police would also be called up to explain.
This follows Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razaruddin Hussain's warning to police chiefs that he would hold them responsible for any infractions by their subordinates.
Razaruddin, addressing the force's top brass, senior officers and officers in charge of police districts nationwide at an event in Cheras recently, did not mince his words when he told those who cannot adequately manage their men to "just leave."
Just days after his warning, the five cops were arrested on Monday night following a raid on one of the suspect's homes in Alor Gajah.
The suspects comprised a DSP based at the state contingent headquarters, an inspector attached to the Melaka Tengah district's Serious Crimes Division, two sergeants, a lance corporal with the Alor Gajah district police, and a civilian.
The raiding party from Bukit Aman's Integrity and Standards Compliance Department (JIPS) seized 5.2 litres of ketum liquid, which is classified as a psychotropic substance under the law.
Whistleblower site Edisi Siasat had alleged that the suspects were busy packaging the ketum juice when they were nabbed.
"The lack of oversight by the Melaka police chief and the failure of the Melaka Tengah district police chief to manage this is unacceptable.
"The same applies to the Melaka Tengah Narcotics Crime Investigation Department, as well as the inadequate supervision by the Alor Gajah district police chief," the channel wrote.
News of the arrests also drew a flurry of comments on social media, panning the police. The responses ranged from outrage to resignation that the suspects would only be subjected to a slap on the wrist.
"Each day, we read of various cases involving the police. The police's motto is 'Polis dan masyarakat berpisah tiada', but these cases have distanced the public even further from the people. We hope that the force will cleanse itself from problematic personnel," wrote Shahrul Nizam on Facebook.
Another Facebook user, Kalas Amin, said such incidents have tarnished the police's reputation.
"It's as if the people have lost their respect for the police. Please clean up your act to avoid being criticised by the public, for the sake of the people and the country," she wrote.
"It's good that these are exposed frequently instead of being swept under the carpet. It can serve as a deterrent to prevent future misdeeds," wrote a Facebook user who went by the handle Abang Jamil.
Other responses, however, were more cynical in nature.
"There's no need to take stern action. Just transfer them elsewhere, easy enough," wrote Facebook user Amani Agro.
The Melaka cops' arrest is the latest in a series of controversies surrounding police conduct.
On Feb 4, 10 policemen conducting a roadblock to apprehend drunk drivers came under investigation after JIPS discovered over RM3,000 in cash on them.
On Jan 29, four policemen from the Brickfields district police headquarters were arrested for consuming ketum at a residence in Taman Tan Yew Lai.
On Jan 28, British YouTubers Chris and Marianne Fisher, known for their travel channel 'TREAD the globe', recorded a video of a traffic cop who solicited RM100 from them.
This led to the arrest of three traffic policemen from the Perak Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department.