SOME years ago, the Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) came up with a rather novel idea to bolster the sagging fortunes of the Crocs.
It was nothing earth-shattering — just a plan to recruit players who were physically tough but most importantly, they must be tall.
The belief among the initiators of the move was that tall players were loftily endowed to help Sarawak recapture its glory days of football and re-scale the heights of the game in the country.
The search took FAS talent scouts all over the state but what they were looking for proved elusive as the divisional affiliates and clubs all came up short. Signing tall players turned out to be a tall order and in a last-ditch effort, the FAS even approached the basketball associations for help.
Even though towering over most other sports players, the cagers were not all that keen on football, being more adept — as they are — at controlling the ball with their hands than their feet. After a while, the ‘tall player’ initiative was forgotten, not for want of enthusiasm but from a dearth of the right stuff.
Whether or not the FAS initiative could have worked out as planned is a matter of conjecture.
Although tall players have some advantages, their medium-height or shorter counterparts are quite capable of holding their own and frequently even proving superior on the pitch.
Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona and Kevin Keegan are short men but footballing geniuses in their own right and solidly built to withstand the rough and tumble of the competitive modern game.
Recently, the police came up with a novel idea as well. While the FAS sought tall players, the police were eyeing good-looking recruits also in the name of boosting efficiency.
The Royal Malaysian Police will reportedly deploy handsome officers to front-line positions but at the same time, these personnel must be friendly, courteous and have good PR.
Inspector-general of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar had said his department wanted the public to feel their friendliness. So it is not just about placing personnel with good looks or nice physiques out there but also ensuring they have proper manners and pleasant personalities.
Imagine cops with looks that kill and a disarming smile as well as a likeable nature.
As one observer noted, the police, while not about to give up their tough-guy image, are ready to give their identity a make-over to keep up with the times.
Gruff and aloft police officers tend to put people off. Their uncouth and coarse disposition which is hardly endearing, will only serve to alienate them from the public.
Most people would support the idea of making gentlemen out of our cops in their interaction with civilians. For one, it will enhance the police image and change public perception of the men in blue from one that is rough and standoffish to one that is approachable and friendly.
Now that the clarion call is for cops to be clean, lean and friendly, the days of the paunchy policemen appear numbered.
For instance, fat police officers in Pahang are soon required to do daily exercise in the face of criticisms that many in the force are out of shape.
Pot-bellied and overweight personnel will find it hard to carry out their duties in a professional manner, and for this reason, Pahang’s police chief Sharifuddin Abdul Ghani wants unfit officers to exercise everyday until they meet the accepted weight and fitness levels.
Malaysian police have long battled a negative public perception of being largely inefficient in battling rising crime. The force need the 4Ps — protective, pro-active, performance-oriented and people-friendly — to change this perception.
The consensus is that more emphasis should be placed on good work ethics, professionalism and knowledge when handling complaints.
A solid follow-up mechanism for complaints should be created to foster trust and respect from the public.
For instance, the assurance that reports against crime can be lodged at any police stations should be followed through as there have been many instances of the public being given the round-around.
Looks are not really all that important but if you have someone who is handsome or pretty, then it is a bonus.
As the IGP rightly pointed out, not all could, or must, be good-looking but it is a plus if they are.
And as the nation’s top cop put it plainly, police officers must, above all, be good-natured and helpful in serving the public.