Polis “Intimidation” And Corruption in Malaysia

The big buzz today is the follow video which currently has over 45,000 views and 1700+ comments:

I think calling it intimidation is a bit dramatic, honestly my level of Bahasa Melayu is not that high so I don’t understand everything that’s being said but I understand the gist of the conversation and generally what is going on.

From my personal experience I find most polis to be fine enough, they are reasonable chaps if you are polite and respectful. That’s all they want at the end of the day, if you are arrogant and sarcastic they aren’t going to react well and they are going to make your life difficult.

Of course there’s still the issue of corruption and some officers are still fishing for kopi duit, but from what I’ve seen it seems to be less than before. For me personally, I’ll never pay a bribe – it’s just wrong. People complain about corruption on one hand but on the other hand they have no problems giving a cop RM50 to escape a legitimate summons.

If I did something wrong I have no issue with accepting the summons and paying for it, after all I’m at fault here and the road & traffic regulations are in place to keep everyone safe and keep the traffic flowing smoothly.

And well if you maintain that stance I can honestly say 8/10 times you’ll get away without a saman and without paying a bribe, because if they are fishing for money (illegal road-block, stopped you when you didnt really do anything wrong etc.) they can’t give you a saman and if you refuse to bribe them there is actually nothing they can do.

Some may say I get away because I’m a foreigner and they don’t feel secure bullying me or it’s too much hassle to write me up. Honestly I don’t know, but from what I’ve seen with others that do the same thing it usually works.

The most important thing is to be polite, ask them what the problem is – listen to their explanation, smile and apologise and ask them nicely to please issue you a saman it’s not a problem.

Anyway that’s my 2 cents, what is your tactic/strategy? And do share your thoughts on the above video.

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31 Responses to Polis “Intimidation” And Corruption in Malaysia

  1. suanie October 11, 2010 at 1:16 pm #

    Nah I think you are right. I watched the video, expecting something like hardcore ku wah jai..

    They have no right to keep her I/C, but she had no right to scribble on their property. True, perhaps they were just looking for an excuse to jump on her. But if she was smart enough to video this, she should have been smart enough to realise it.

    I can appreciate how scary it may be for a single woman to be alone in a situation like that. Makes me want to read and understand my rights better!

    By the way, we didn’t know what she did to warrant the cops pulling her over.

  2. Huai Bin October 11, 2010 at 1:20 pm #

    Hmm…I don’t know what happened before that but the person was unnecessarily provocative, IMHO e.g. “Do you even know what intimidation means?” but the police did start it with their bruque attitude but it’s not about who started it but thing could have been resolved better.

    Now the cops are just going to take their anger out at someone else.

    Balik balai urine test.

  3. Pat October 11, 2010 at 1:29 pm #

    Agree with ST – i’ve never paid the bribe for the three samans i’ve received so far… (not sure about that 8/10 thing tho :p)

  4. Bryan October 11, 2010 at 1:30 pm #

    People complain about corruption on one hand but on the other hand they have no problems giving a cop RM50 to escape a legitimate summons.

    Exactly! No matter how they call it, “you help me I help you” or “you give me willingly”, it’s a bribe!

    As for the video, I suppose a smile and friendly conversation would definitely turn things better but somehow she’s doing the opposite.

  5. Niki Cheong October 11, 2010 at 1:37 pm #

    I think the police officer was right when he called her crazy.

    Respect begets respect. This woman sounded so disrespectful. If she really wanted to lodge a report against them for holding her MyKad and driver’s license, then just go do it.

    Why did she wait for them to return it to her?

    She came across more of a drama queen than anything else!

    Watching this video, I feel so pissed off for the cops!

  6. Charlene October 11, 2010 at 1:56 pm #

    Bribery only happens when we allow it. If they wanna saman me, I’ll tell them to go ahead with it. 99% of the time, miraculously they become very ‘kind hearted’ and told me to be more careful, before letting me go ‘this time’.

  7. LMF October 11, 2010 at 2:41 pm #

    what is your tactic/strategy? And do share your thoughts on the above video.

    Just smile and be polite. It helps most of the time to speed things up and to get things going. I didn’t wanna part with my money. Not to them.

  8. KY October 11, 2010 at 3:25 pm #

    I think the girl’s basically just asking for it in this case, so arrogant. I’d probably serve her chef’s special sauce if I’m a server waiting her table, this is no way to treat anyone.

  9. eiling October 11, 2010 at 4:28 pm #

    i think the strategy is to always be polite.

  10. kevin October 11, 2010 at 5:27 pm #

    lol. the best way to handle it is with humility on both parties.

    on a side note:
    1) she sounds so darn stuck up.
    2) chinese lady, thats speaks with an accent, and….cant even speak our national language decently. if you are a malaysian, and have resided in the country for years and still cant speak BM properly, something is clearly wrong with you.

  11. Tan Yee Hou October 11, 2010 at 7:09 pm #

    Wahhh. Opening line already so lansi.

    I admit that I don’t have a very clean impression of the police and tend to mouth ‘corrupt’ whenever I see one.

    Time to change that I guess.

  12. MBI October 11, 2010 at 7:15 pm #

    Agree absolutely with above comments, especially Kevin’s. While the police could behave more diplomatically, the video shows the lady started on an arrogant note.

    <>. Need one say more?

  13. dogbone October 11, 2010 at 7:37 pm #

    mmh. imo she was the one digging her own grave there. the way she was talking them down totally rubbed me the wrong way. don’t get me wrong, i have about as much respect for our boys in blue as the next malaysian… which isn’t much. but i feel in this case it was the lady who really shoulda gotten off her high horse.

  14. Mellissa October 11, 2010 at 8:22 pm #

    I want to smack that girl upside down and teach her some manners. YOUR A GIRL. Just smile at him and say sorry or burst into tears, confirm no saman anyway lah sheesh.

  15. mw October 11, 2010 at 9:09 pm #

    That girl is confirmed a blogger!

  16. Ngan October 11, 2010 at 10:10 pm #

    An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.

    The lady is obviously very provocative. In most situation, when you refuses to bribe them while maintaining a polite attitude, chances are, they will let you go with a warning.

    Just be nice, and if one is wrong, admit and move on. I don’t see a reason why she needs to record this.

  17. CV October 12, 2010 at 12:05 am #

    She can’t even speak proper BM and that will always create misunderstanding between both sides.
    Nonetheless, she is quite arrogant and obviously trying to make a fuss out of it.

  18. nobodynobodybutme October 12, 2010 at 12:57 am #

    I don’t think the two cops are real in the first place. One without the badge, without the stick (dunno what they call it) and handcuffs?? The uniform they are wearing with the transport is way to suspicious. One with yellow helmet??

    Honestly, I admire the courage the girl have but i do think she’s a little way too much. But hey, if both are real police, just give the summon and well you go..why so care about being film if you are just doing your job anyway.

  19. kimberlycun October 12, 2010 at 1:45 am #

    police intimidation…woman intimidating the two cops issit? wonder what provoked her to be so defensive and rude? the part where she kept repeating “I’m scared” reek of smug sarcasm instead of real fear.

  20. phumes October 12, 2010 at 4:44 am #

    I think it’s a reflection of the breakdown of law & order in Malaysia due to corruption. Citizens no longer trust nor respect the law enforcers. Law enforcement believes that it is okay for some “side income” if their superiors are doing the same all the way to the top. It’s every man/woman/dog for him/her/itself.

    Sad…really…

    The police should have just told her why she was pulled over and then issued her the summons, whilst she should have just accepted it and then pay for the traffic offenses she had committed. Police officers should not have reacted when she whipped the camera phone out and started recording them because they are supposed to be professional. However, the law may prohibit unauthorised recording.

  21. cooknengr October 12, 2010 at 11:38 am #

    I think the Polis can understand ST’s Ah Beng English than her wanna be England …did you hear, she said ” Swell!” that is like so groovy…

  22. Mark October 12, 2010 at 5:47 pm #

    I agree with ST that if you ask for the saman, 8/10 chance they won’t give it to you because its an illegal road block. Experienced it twice already, no summons, just a simple warning even though I wasn’t in the wrong.

  23. Jacqueline Chan October 12, 2010 at 9:37 pm #

    I feel that people are taking for granted the freedom that is handed to them. This woman is just crazy and “too much”. Dumb Malaysians who can’t think properly resort to methods such as this, thinking “I shall take a video and post it online, and show people that I am daring and not one of those quite malaysians who don’t stick up for my rights” In reality, she’s just plain bodoh!

  24. Obefiend October 12, 2010 at 11:59 pm #

    i think what we have is a failure to communicate

    both trying to out-lansi one another

  25. Danny Foo October 13, 2010 at 12:08 am #

    The girl’s name is; Pamela Lim. And apparently, she was pulled over for using her phone in speakerphone mode while in her hand. A blog called; LouyarBurok, got her story and posted it up.

    https://www.loyarburok.com/the-system/bolehland/police-intimidation-video-what-happened-before/

    And the cops are legit cops. Their uniforms are of a different group. Apparently, polis am or something like that.

    By the way, I did download the Red Book from the Malaysian Bar website and believe it’s something all Malaysians should download, print, read and keep at all times. 🙂

    As for the whole hoo-ha, I find both parties wrong. End of story.

  26. SH.Lee October 13, 2010 at 12:18 am #

    i think this girl blew it way out of proportion.If u get a summons, then pay for it, no biggies. don’t have to act like big shot and talk like u’re superior to the police. she’s asking for trouble in this case.

    i think the police should clean up their image and look like real policemen instead of pushovers.

  27. Charlene October 13, 2010 at 1:07 am #

    Actually, after watching this vid, I have nothing but respect for her. Most people in this scenario would’ve been intimidated and their minds would’ve gone blank. She can at least still be cool and kept her composure. It’s quite clear the officers were trying to scare her into submission. Two officers dealing with ONE lady… is that even necessary? And they clearly have their own attitude problem as well while most people here are commenting on her attitude. They should’ve been more professional dealing with people, instead of calling them crazy or asking ‘Who do you think you are?’. Did they forget that our tax money pays for the food on their table?

  28. Myhorng October 14, 2010 at 11:45 am #

    i think the gal is just stupid or crazy. so dramatic i HATE it. she’s right not to follow the police back to police station but she shouldn’t had wrote something on the summon. this is so call, sendiri cari pasal.

    suanie, i think she’s talking on phone before stop by the policemen.

  29. malaysian chinese lady October 14, 2010 at 1:56 pm #

    Don’t know what happened that they tried to saman her, but she has just embarrassed herself (and other Malaysians) for the world to see in this video clip. Immature, arrogant and ill-mannered.

    On the other hand, I can see how scary this situation can be, being a lady myself. But the fact remains this is the worst way possible to speak to the police when they stop you, in any country in the world.

    I have seen tv programmes of how the British police handle uncooperative wrong-doers and I am shocked to see how stern they can be. One scene involved a mother caught lying to the officer, and said officer threatened that woman so loudly in front of her children until she cried on the spot.

    But back to this video clip…
    She must have felt afraid and panicked when the cops stopped her, and later her feelings turned into anger. And anger quickly turned into false confidence. I wouldn’t irritate the police on purpose like that. The video was a good idea, but her mannerism angers me because it reinforces bad stereotypes of all Chinese Malaysians. So biadap!

    I guess it was good to share this clip afterall — how NOT to react when stopped by the Malaysian police.

  30. Karen October 14, 2010 at 3:03 pm #

    Both sides are at the wrong. While it’s true that policemen ought to be more professional in handling situations like this but at the same time the self-proclaimed educated lady should not have instigated the whole situation by scribbling on the summons book. If you do not want to admit the summons, you can always opt not to sign it. If the policemen signal for bribe then just ask to be summoned instead because if you offer bribe, the policemen can turn you in for bribery.

  31. muffler January 18, 2011 at 1:11 am #

    I like her and wish more people would react the way she did. She is perfectly within her right to demand a proper explanation, to keep her IC/driver’s license and demand a look at the summons. He did not write the correct words and she had to do it for him. I dont think she is arrogant. After years of oppression by the Malays I think its time more Chinese and Indians for that matter should sand tall….after all it’s their sweat and tears that have built Malaysia.

 
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