KUALA LUMPUR – A royal commission of inquiry must be immediately set up to investigate the inspector-general of police’s claim of ministerial interference and an audio clip featuring Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.
Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi in a statement said police credibility has been marred following outgoing top cop Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador’s open indictment against the home minister.
“Hamid Bador has openly accused Hamzah of interfering in the reshuffle of senior officers, be it the promotion or transfer of problematic officers. He (Hamid) also made other accusations, including ‘frogs’ (party-hoppers) who are linked to corruption.
“Another matter is that Hamzah himself admitted it was him in an audio recording discussing the reshuffle. What needs to be resolved are the IGP’s accusations and the details in the audio clip, hence the need for an RCI.”
Puad, who is not seen as friendly to Perikatan Nasional, said Hamid’s revelation that the Police Force Commission chaired by Hamzah is tainted by politics does not bode well for the force’s integrity.
“Apa maksud Hamid Bador, ‘Bahaya sekarang ini. Dia (Hamzah) bawa mesin pengorek buat jalan baru ke?’ (What did Hamid Bador mean, ‘It is dangerous now. He (Hamzah) is bringing an excavator to build a new road?)
“What is dangerous? Expedite the setting up of an RCI. Expedite the reconvening of Parliament.”
Yesterday, in Hamid’s last press conference as IGP, he slammed Hamzah over the alleged interference.
“This is what should be avoided. A minister cannot interfere in the management of daily tasks. I have already raised this with him (Hamzah). I have already raised it with the chief secretary to the government,” he was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today.
“We have our bosses, we have 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. That’s not good. It makes it difficult for me to organise (police matters), and that is how some camps (within the force) arise.”
Hitting out at Hamzah, he said many of the commission’s investigations into police misconduct have been suspended, and that it meets only 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.”
Hamid accused political “frogs” of making graft a common practice, and said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission should not allow defections to go unchecked.
“I fight corruption in the force, but I see it everywhere in politics. It is like our country doesn’t have laws.”
Hamid’s last day is next Monday, with his deputy, Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, to take over the reins the next day.
Earlier yesterday, Hamzah admitted it was him in a recently leaked audio recording of a discussion on Hamid’s successor, but he defended the conversation.
“What I did was not wrong. I asked the IGP 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 as denying he has undue influence over the transfer of senior police officers.
Bernama quoted him as saying any decision on reshuffling top posts in the force is made in unison with the Police Force Commission.
“I have never interfered in police affairs. I apologise if there are those who said I have interfered. I am chairman of the commission; if there is a decision issued, it is the decision of (the whole) commission. Sometimes, though, there are people who (misconstrue) a decision.
“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 chairman of the commission.”
At the same time, he added, 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. – The Vibes, May 1, 2021
