KUALA LUMPUR – A looming change in government? A worsening pandemic? Whatever the reason, Bukit Aman’s latest decision to freeze police officers going on leave has raised eyebrows.
Yesterday, a circular issued to all police officers put the country in a state of alert. The notice informed of a freeze on leave for all senior and lower-ranking officers.
The circular dated yesterday stated that Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani has instructed all applications for leave to be frozen.
This directive takes effect on all applications for domestic, foreign, and inter-district travels and is enforced immediately.
It was also stated that the freeze, which will affect 80% of the 137,500-strong force in line with Ops Aman, will apply indefinitely until further notice.
“The freezing of leave is to ensure all senior police officers and lower-ranking officers are in a state of readiness and can be mobilised at any time,” the circular signed by Bukit Aman management director Datuk Zaini Jass read.
“Exceptions to the freezing of leave will only be given for emergency matters or on compassionate or reasonable grounds, subject to the agreement and approval of the respective department heads.”
It said all police department directors, state commissioners and police chiefs must ensure that the directive is distributed to all personnel and complied with by all senior and low-ranking officers under their purview.
The freeze on leave for all cops comes on the back of a leadership crisis faced by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, whose premiership is on tenterhooks after over a dozen Umno MPs withdrew their support for the prime minister last week, effectively causing him to lose his majority in the Dewan Rakyat.
It was reported yesterday that Istana Negara had asked the Dewan Rakyat speaker to disclose the number of parliamentarians who support Muhyiddin.
During Muhyiddin’s pre-cabinet audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Wednesday, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah is learnt to have expressed his views to Muhyiddin over the latter’s support in Parliament.
This follows the opposition bloc sending letters to the palace over the last three days to indicate that their respective parties do not support Muhyiddin or the Perikatan Nasional government.
With no single MP appearing to have majority support to form the next government, Muhyiddin will test his support in a confidence vote in Parliament on September 7. – The Vibes, August 13, 2021
