In ‘Jaws 2’, the sequel released three years later, the catch-line “Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water…” is etched in my mind. That was a good line and I still remember it after all these years. It attracts attention and keeps one in suspense that something is still lurking out there. So it’s not safe yet to go back swimming in the seas.

Somehow, that catch-line from ‘Jaws 2’ reminded me of what is happening in our Police Force today. Let me explain what I mean.

Several months ago, our Bintulu MP, Datuk Tiong King Sing lambasted the Sarawak Police, particularly those in Sibu for their inability to bring gangsters who had been harassing the people to book.

The situation was getting out of hand, Datuk Tiong stressed, and so much so that these bad hats were even controlling the prices of essential commodities. He also alleged that many policemen in Sibu were on the take and were in cahoots with the underworld.

Soon there was a massive clampdown following the MP’s outburst over the matter. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan, Bukit Aman CID chief Datuk Christopher Wan personally came to Sarawak to investigate the complaints.

Action was swiftly taken. A massive crackdown on gangsterism activities was conducted. Many underground warlords were arrested and banished. Police officers, suspected of harbouring gangsters, were either transferred or put in ‘cold storage’ where they rightly belong.

Along the way, Bukit Aman announced that it was going on a recruitment drive to beef up its manpower. The police will also be upgrading their equipment to fight crime.

Perhaps what was most comforting is the proposed IPCMC (Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission) that has long been awaited. Finally, there is light at the end of the tunnel following the new IGP’s statement that Bukit Aman was bowing to public pressure and is now backing the watered-down version of the IPCMC.

This is where ‘Jaws 2’ comes in. Everything is now safe. The police had taken swift action and the people, especially in Sarawak, are no longer living in fear of gangsters. Sarawak also has a new police commissioner (albeit in an acting capacity) — the previous one had retired. Public confidence in the police went up a notch. Just when things started to get better…BANG! Another bombshell was dropped in the police force over in Kuala Lumpur.

What happened in the police force this week was unprecedented? Here, you have a very senior officer (a commissioner and No. 3 in rank) lashing out at the Anti-Corruption Agency and his own Police Department over what he claimed were ‘ill treatment from the ACA and non-protection from his own police force’.

Dropping the ‘bomb’ which reverberates throughout the country, Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) chief Datuk Ramli Yusoff came out in the open to reveal that he was the ‘RM27 million police officer’ being investigated by the ACA.

That notwithstanding, Ramli also emerged with his guns blazing. He made very serious allegations against the police and the ACA as well as the Attorney-General. This made one wonder if the allegation of Ramli’s ill-gotten gains was made up by higher authorities due to his zeal in nabbing a powerful underworld kingpin who have influence and connections among the top brass in the police force.

One shudders to think that a powerful gangster has such influence in the police force that those who blew the whistle about his misdeeds are not protected by law enforcement officers. Those who want to spill the beans on the wrongdoing of the rich and powerful will now think twice as their personal safety is not assured if they go public. Now, isn’t that worrying!

This is what reminded me of the catch-line, “Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water…”. So all’s not that well as it seems to the public after all.

Now, let those of us in Sarawak be so naive as to think that what happened in Bukit Aman in Kuala Lumpur has no bearing on Jalan Badruddin in Kuching. Don’t forget, Jalan Badruddin still has to take orders from Bukit Aman.

As a Sarawakian, I worry in the event that our Sarawak Police Commissioner decided to arrest and banish a well known underworld kingpin, will someone in Bukit Aman start to interfere and overturn that decision.

If what Datuk Ramli Yusoff alleged is to be believed, he got himself into trouble because of his CCID men’s action against one Johore’s notorious underground figure.

Let us stop pretending that the underworld in Sarawak has been operating without the support of some well-known personalities, be they politicians or businessmen. If I were a junior police officer, I don’t think I want to waste my time and energy working on a case involving a powerful underworld figure knowing very well that my boss will work to secure his release later.

This is an example of what can be really demoralising for the honest, upright and responsible policemen in the country.

Datuk Ramli Yusoff’s revelation is a shocker! Mind you, he is no ordinary cop. He is a full-fledge police commissioner (equivalent to a three-star general) and this can happen to him. Last Thursday, he was also charged in court — what an embarrassing end to an illustrious 38-year of service to His Majesty’s police force.

Really, I don’t feel comfortable to go back in the water…just yet.

(Comments can reach the writer at paulsir99@hotmail.com)