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Far-reaching police reforms to restore public confidence in its capability to reduce the double rise in crime rate and fear of crime should be top priority in the agenda of the Cabinet meeting tomorrow Media Statement by Lim Kit Siang (Petaling Jaya,  Tuesday): Far-reaching police reforms to restore public confidence in its capability to reduce  the double rise in crime rate and fear of crime should be top priority in the agenda of the Cabinet meeting tomorrow.  The Cabinet should in particular take full account of the recent  interview of the former Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Haniff Omar that the police had failed to meet the new expectations of  the people in changing times and  to keep abreast with  their  constitutional demands and the trend of  human rights, but still stuck in the colonial mentality of regarding itself as “Tuan” and the people as “subject” completely alien to the ethos of a modern and democratic society.  The 20th July 2003 issue of  Mingguan Malaysia published the  interview with Haniff where the former Inspector-General of Police said:  “Sebelum saya bersara dulu zaman sedang berubah dan saya tinggalkan pesanan kepada pegawai-pegawai bahawa mereka yang tinggal mestilah cekap menguruskan perubahan ini.  Kita tidak dapat lari daripadanya…  “Apabila kita menjangka perubahan ini, saya cuba memberikan persediaan kepada pegawai-pegawai termasuk mengikuti pengajian mendalami Perlembagaan, berkaitan hak asasi.  “Kebanyakan masalah yang dihadapi oleh pasukan polis dalam beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini disebabkan kegagalan dalam menangani desakan untuk perubahan ini ataupun tidak dapat mencapai tahap sukses, seimbang dengan kehendak keadaan.”  When asked as to the cause of this police failure, Haniff said:  “Sebabnya ialah tentang sikap yang tidak berubah. Dulu polis ini tuan, rakyat itu subjek. Tetapi apabila rakyat sudah mula mengadu dan mempersoalkan tindakan polis, itu diterima sebagai cabaran. Sikap polis pula menjadi terlalu defensive dan ini berlaku dalam tahun 1990-an.  “Dengan sikap demikian, kita tidak dapat melayan kehendak rakyat untuk mempunyai kebebasan yang lebih. Kita masih mencengkam mereka  seperti dulu sedangkan rakyat fikir sudah tidak ada ancaman besar seperti komunis.”  The question is whether the Cabinet is also afflicted with this colonial disease where  Ministers regard themselves as “Tuan” and the people as “subject” that they could not see the root cause of the lack of democratic accountability, sensitivity and professionalism of the police as pointed out by the former IGP.  (29/7/2003) * Lim Kit Siang, DAP National Chairman