Top cop cops out on corruption Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan was quoted in a local newspaper recently that police officers now have no reason to take bribes since the government has announced a generous pay hike for them. Is he trying to convey the message that previously it was perfectly ok for police officers to take bribes prior to any salary hike? So what were all the previous officious announcements about battling corruption in the force all about? Is the top cop in the land really serious about battling corruption within the force, a problem which is getting worse by the day or is he going to make empty rhetorical statements to reporters?

By his logic, a salary hike should stem the flow of dirty money into the pockets of our police officers. Somehow, the idea that rapacious, hungry officers who are so used to slipping RM50 notes into their pockets during the course of duty, are magically going to stop taking bribes due to a salary hike is a little ludicrous. Once, the good times roll, its hard to stop it. That is plain human nature, cop or no cop. It shows that Musa, however well-meaning, is at his wits end, to stop the potent public perception that Malaysia's police force is riddled with corrupt cops all the way to the top.  ¶ 10:31 AM