Eliminating Deaths and Abuse in Custody Together (Edict) welcomes the restrictions and other measures announced by the prime minister to curb the Covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia.
The effective enforcement of restrictions, on the scale required, places a great burden upon policemen and women.
Much is expected of our policemen and women. They will have to work even longer hours than they already do. They will have to rapidly learn new rules and enforce them effectively.
It is likely their leave will be cancelled. It is likely they will have to wear masks – which can increase the risk of transferring the Covid-19 virus from their hands to their faces and thus lungs. (Wearing masks increases the chances of them touching their faces with their hands.)
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Our policemen and women will have to enforce restrictions which are unwelcome to large numbers of the public. They will have to enforce them across all sectors of society – ranging from vagrants to mall owners.
Our policemen and women may have to spend much time away from home. They, like others who work for essential services such as the Fire and Rescue Department, hospitals and prisons cannot “self-isolate” like many others can.
Our policemen and women also work in places which are potential centres of infection – such as lock-ups – where they will have to provide medications to detainees and facilitate treatments for them.
Our policemen and women, like those in other essential services, will live in constant exhaustion, encountering human misery and unpleasantness daily, while monitored and commented upon by a critical public.
Due to uncurbed and unpunished abuse of power by some policemen, most policemen and women are often treated badly by members of the public – and indeed are sometimes abused.
During this time when a virus shows us our common humanity and vulnerability, Edict urges the public to honour policemen and women.
Policemen and women are essential to our wellbeing. They sacrifice much for us. They must be obeyed and treated with respect when they carry out their work in accordance with the law.
We encourage the public to go out of their way to stand with the police during this trying time in our nation. Don’t abuse them. Help them.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
