KUALA LUMPUR – The Pakatan Harapan leadership will keep the pressure on Putrajaya to form a royal commission of inquiry into newly retired top cop Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador’s allegations of political meddling in the force, among others, said PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil.
A separate complaint has been filed over Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin’s alleged interference in the appointment of the Special Branch chief.
Fahmi and four other parliamentarians went to the Dang Wangi district police headquarters today to lodge a report over Hamid’s allegations of corruption and abuse of power made last Friday.
The other MPs are Teresa Kok (Seputeh), Datin Tan Yee Kew (Wangsa Maju), Maria Chin Abdullah (Petaling Jaya) and Datuk Mohd Hatta Md Ramli (Lumut).
“We have lodged a police report concerning a press conference by former IGP Hamid Bador on April 30. During the press conference, he touched on a few matters that were shocking, and we have requested for police to investigate,” said Fahmi.
“We are asking police to investigate what Hamid Bador said, and whether what he said really happened. This includes the allegation of an individual taking a private jet to Sabah to convince politicians to defect.”
In the police report, the MPs highlighted claims of corruption in politics and the individual who took the said private jet.
Fahmi said they are calling for a probe into Hamid’s claim of interference by Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin in the appointment of the Special Branch chief.
Hatta said the former inspector-general of police’s claims must be taken seriously.
“Ministers interfering in the police force are a serious matter. We don’t want police as an institution to be looked down on by the public because of certain individuals like the minister.”
Kok said during her time in the cabinet, she refrained from interfering in matters concerning government officers.
“There are agencies and relevant bodies that have the power to regulate appointments and transfers. When I was a minister, I never interfered in matters related to civil officers.”
Maria said the time is ripe for the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to be set up, saying those accused of abusing power should take leave so as to facilitate police investigations.
“This shows that we need IPCMC. I hope that if there are investigations, the ministers and police officers concerned will take leave to facilitate (the probe).”
To ensure full accountability for the allegations raised by Hamid, Tan urged Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to reconvene Parliament.
“We are worried, because until now, the prime minister has yet to address this issue despite the public awaiting his response. The time has come for us to reopen Parliament to debate this issue.”
Hamzah last week admitted that it is him in a recently leaked audio recording of a discussion on the appointment of senior police officers.
“That is my voice. I didn’t do anything illegal. What did I do wrong? The wrongdoing was recording my conversation with someone. That is illegal. What I did was not wrong,” he told a press conference after announcing Hamid’s successor.
He added that the clip is not new, and the discussion took place about a year ago.
Hamzah said it is his duty under the federal constitution, as Police Force Commission chairman, to oversee the appointment of high-ranking officers, including the IGP.
Later the same day, Hamid slammed Hamzah.
“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.
“I want to clarify that the (home minister’s) responsibility as chairman of the Police Force Commission has a limit,” he was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today.
He added that Hamzah pushed to determine police officers’ placement, and that the Police Force Commission has suspended many investigations into misconduct in the force, and meets only four times a year.
On April 13, Hamzah reportedly denied having undue influence over the transfer of senior cops.
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 officers.
“I will meet the minister to explain my position and action in issuing the transfer order,” said Hamid.
“I should be the one to handle the matter as the IGP, as the law states that the command, control and regulation of (the police force) is my responsibility.”
He said he 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, May 4, 2021
