Kuala Lumpur, 16th February 2021 - Integrity, compassion and empathy. These qualities are non-negotiable and should be instilled among police personnel, such as through regular skills training.

Former Deputy Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Noor Rashid Ibrahim said integrity and empathy were important character traits for policemen in maintaining and building civilian police relations.

He was commenting on recent incidents where members of the public faced uncalled for and rude remarks from policemen manning roadblocks during the Movement Control Order and at police stations while seeking help.

However, he added that the public should not be too quick to condemn a policeman or judge the entire police force solely on a one off bad experience or by what was shared on social media.

"The police force is a huge enforcement body. There are many officers and personnel with high integrity and professionalism, but it is the few rotten apples who are giving a bad name to the men in blue.

"The police are aware of this and have been working to address issues of integrity and lack of empathy or compassion from time to time.

"Police and its Integrity and Standard Compliance Department (JIPS) focus on tackling this. The police's number one priority has been to ensure integrity in the department at all levels. It is the issue of the day," he said.

Read further on News Straits Times article as attached.

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