KUALA LUMPUR – Outgoing top cop Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador is hitting out against the home minister after Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin admitted being the person in an audio clip heard discussing a reshuffle of senior officers.
Just hours after Hamzah announced Hamid’s replacement, the inspector-general condemned the interference by the minister.
“This is what should be avoided. A minister cannot interfere with the management of daily tasks.
“I have already raised this with him (Hamzah). I already raised it with the chief secretary to the government. We have our bosses, we raised it to them but he still wants the power (to interfere). This is not good for the country,” Hamid was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today.
“I want to clarify that the (home minister’s) responsibility as chairman of the Police Force Commission (SPP) has a limit.”
He was quoted as saying that Hamzah had pushed to determine where police officers will be placed.
“That’s not good. It makes it difficult for me to organise (police matters) and that is how some camps (within the force) arise.”
He also hit out at Hamzah, who chairs SPP, saying that many investigations into police misconduct by the commission have been suspended and it only meets four times a year.
“That is why it is best for the commission to not be chaired by a minister. Let a judge or former judge lead. When ministers join, there are elements of politics.
“There’s no harmony between me and the minister because we have different ways of thinking.”
Today, Hamzah said it is his duty under the federal constitution as SPP chairman to oversee the appointment of high-ranking officers, including the IGP.
“What I did was not wrong. I asked the IGP (inspector-general of police) to submit a few names to Tuanku (Yang di-Pertuan Agong). For the Royal Malaysia Police.”
Asked if he will lodge a police report on the incident, he said there is no need to, as he did nothing wrong.
Pressed by the media on the matter, seeing that he said the recording was done illegally, Hamzah replied: “I am the home minister, okay? There are other ways I can use.
“Who is the person who recorded the conversation? That’s the question. How I’ll do it, that’s another matter.”
On April 13, Hamzah was reported denying having undue influence over the transfer of senior police officers.
Bernama quoted him as saying that any shuffling of top cop posts was made in unison by SPP, which he chairs.
“I have never interfered in police affairs. I apologise if there are those who said that I have interfered.
“I am the chairman of the commission, if there is a decision that has been issued, it is the decision of (the whole) commission. Sometimes, though, there are people who (misconstrue) a decision the other way around.
“What is most important is that the decision should be seen as a decision by the commission. It is true that I am the home minister but I am also the chairman of the commission.
“Hence, it is the decision of the majority, and I always follow the decision of the majority. Instead of me making my own decision, I think it is good for all parties to understand that the commission is (beyond reproach) because its members are appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” he said.
Hamzah said that it was true that the letter of appointment of the IGP was also from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
He added that at the same time, the commission should be placed above the IGP because all decisions relating to the police force are made by the commission, as opposed to just one individual.
Earlier this month, a Facebook post went viral, stating the involvement of the home minister in the affairs of police regarding the postponed transfer of senior police officers.
“I will meet the minister to explain my position and action in issuing the transfer order.
“I should be the one to handle the matter as the inspector-general of police, as the law states that the command, control, and regulation of (the police force) is my responsibility,” Hamid had said.
He said he had issued the transfer order for “the good of all”.
“There was nothing extraordinary about it except that I was on leave at the last minute. And at the last minute, there was a directive to postpone it. I will meet him and explain why it has to go on.” – The Vibes, April 30, 2021
