Yahaya Ramli: Truly a People's Policeman

In the heat of the morning Sun earlier today, tears were rolling freely and hugs were longer than they usually are. Our Subang Jaya men and women in blue could no longer put up their brave front as they said goodbye to Subang Jaya OCPD SAC Yahaya Ramli who was leaving for his next posting in the southern State of Johor. He had clocked in 4 years, 2 months and 11 days with IPD Subang Jaya. But it was not the time he had spent that made everyone well up in tears; it was his friendly, warm and fatherly figure that endeared everyone to him.

Back in 2012, when I got wind of his posting to Subang Jaya, I had made first contact. Back then, before meeting him in person, he appeared tough and definitely a no-nonsense man. He is still a tough and no-nonsense man but he has also shown us his loving side - warm, friendly, fatherly and most of all a friend to all of us.

As the man behind the community newspaper in Subang Jaya and also being involved in community initiatives all around the neighbourhood, I was the only journalist who spent time with him most be it in his official capacity or in his personal private time when he would casually join in whatever we initiated.

Words cannot describe the relationship the community and I have with this shining example of a policeman and community man. His farewell hug for me told me how sad he was to leave us all in Subang Jaya. He held me close for a long time and it felt like he did not want to let go.

I stood by watching him hug his senior officers and everyone almost broke into tears as they received an endearing hug from him or a very warm handshake (for the female officers). Yahaya was definitely a good superior who led his team to bring down crime in Subang Jaya by 18.65% in 2015 compared to the corresponding year in 2014.

Yahaya’s relationship with the media was excellent. Never once has he not answered any enquiries from the media. During press conferences, he was thorough with his facts and always patient with the persistent reporters who wanted more information. He even had a whatsapp group with the media to share information and answer any questions. Most of all he was like a “father” to all of us.

Yahaya treated everyone in the community equally. He was fair and just. He was always neutral in carrying out his duties and never liked to be in the political limelight. He would always remark “I am not a political man”. He treated every politician from both divides fairly and equally the same based on the merit of their engagement with him.

It is thus sad to see him leave us. But we are happy that he is leaving us for greener pastures with his promotion. We believe he will be back, not too long from now.

Until then, we Salute You Sir! See You Soon!

#RoyalMalaysianPolice #Selangor #Crime #Malaysia