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For former top cop, weak security reflects a weak government

For former top cop, weak security reflects a weak government

Security issues must be a priority because they reflect the strength of a country's administration, a former top cop said.

Former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said the government would appear weak if there were weaknesses in the security of the county.

"If security is not given priority, then the public perception will be that the government is weak. This means internal resolutions are needed by the leaders," he said at a forum on the situation of Malays post-GE13 in Kuala Lumpur last night.

Musa also criticised the policies of the Barisan Nasional-led administration, saying: “Policy changes for political reasons have complicated the tasks of public officials in strengthening national security.

"Leaders must trust public servants. They know what they need to do. They are responsible for maintaining peace and security.

"So if there are any policy changes, these public servants have no choice but to follow."

Musa said this issue had arisen during his time as the nation's police chief.

"Foreigners were not subject to a rigorous check when they entered Malaysia, because Putrajaya wanted to encourage more tourists to visit.”

Musa said a tourist who brought RM1,000 when he entered the country should be subjected to checks.

He said the situation was different in the United States, citing his own experience of having to remove his jacket for a search when he visited that country.

"But in Malaysia, the situation is different, especially in the intake of foreign students to private colleges and the entry of foreign workers."

Musa also said that street demonstrations organised by the opposition were a form of Western culture.

He said all the ideas and strategies of street demonstrations aimed at toppling the government were written in a book by western authors.

"Everything in the book is about street demonstrations, on how to topple a government, similar to what we saw in Egypt during the 'Arab Spring'," he said, without naming the authors.

On the weaknesses within Umno and the other component parties of Barisan Nasional in winning the hearts of voters, Musa compared the parties with the opposition, saying: "Umno leaders need to change their attitude and go down to the grassroots more often.

"I am not saying this because I support the opposition, although I have been accused in the past of being an opposition supporter."

Musa said it was a fact that leaders needed to communicate more often with the grassroots.

"The opposition goes down to the grassroots riding a bicycle, but the ruling party uses a luxury car, so this must change." – April 16, 2014.