[2330] The police force and the military must remain separated

The roles of the police and the armed forces are different. One enforces the law while the other stands on guard against the enemy of the state. The difference in functions and in challenges both faces necessitate the two to be separated. When two security forces are combined, the power of the military expands. With that, there is a fear that the military might see everything that it faces as enemy of the state. The military becomes paranoid and then acts upon the policing power that it has. That is a step towards military rule.

I am raising this issue because I have read in the news recently that the police is cooperating with the military in fighting crime. In the Parliament yesterday, the Minister of Home Affairs confirms the news report.^[1] He said that the Ministry was having strategic cooperation with several entities including the military. The cooperation includes the use of military camps for training and recruitment of police officers and joint patrol.

Whether this militarizes the police force is arguable, but what is certain is that it will expand the influence of the military in our society.

The goal of reducing crime rate in the country is laudable. The goal however does not justify all means. The rule of laws must still be adhered to. Rights must be respected, including those belonging to criminals. The goal also does not justify the erosion of separation between the police and the armed force.

The two must remain separated.

^[1] — Kementerian Dalam Negeri sedang dan akan mengadakan kerjasama strategik dengan pihak lain antaranya seperti Angkatan Tentera Malaysia yang telah dilaksanakan bagi menangani jenayah seperti penggunaan kem-kem tentera untuk melatih dan merekrut anggota polis, mengadakan rondaan-rondaan secara bersama dan menyerap bekas personel tentera dalam perkhidmatan polis. [Page 3. Hansard. March 9 2011.]