KUALA LUMPUR – Just a day into Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador’s retirement as the nation’s top cop, several political organisations are lodging reports over his “explosive” revelations last week.
Among them are Datuk Mohd Hatta Md Ramli (Amanah secretary-general), Fahmi Fadzil (PKR communications director) and Teresa Kok (DAP vice-chairman). They will file a report at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters today.
Also today, Pakatan Harapan Youth, headed by Shazni Munir Mohd Ithnin, will head to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office here over the same matter.
Hamid, in a press conference on Friday, hit out at Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin for interfering in the reshuffling and transfer of senior police officers.
He also said many investigations into misconduct in the force, by the Police Force Commission chaired by Hamzah, have been suspended, and that it meets only four times a year.
Hamid accused political “frogs” of making graft a common practice, and said MACC 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.”
His last day as inspector-general of police was yesterday, with his deputy, Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, taking over beginning today.
PKR and DAP, in a press conference yesterday, questioned graft-busters for not looking into Hamid’s allegations.
PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail warned that the lack of action will tarnish MACC’s image.
“The ball is in MACC’s court. If MACC keeps mum, it will be disastrous for the nation.”
The two opposition parties have, for the past several months, witnessed defections, including among their MPs and assemblymen.
Last month, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim revealed that five PKR lawmakers were threatened or enticed with rewards to join the Perikatan Nasional government.
The MPs are Natrah Ismail (Sekijang), S. Kesavan (Sg Siput), Awang Husaini Sahari (Putatan), M. Karuppaiya (Padang Serai) and Michael Teo (Miri).
Anwar said he has received multiple complaints from some of his party’s lawmakers regarding the pressure being put on them to jump ship.
The PN government’s actions in allegedly threatening or buying off MPs have nothing to do with politics, but are a form of deception and an abuse of power, he said.
Prior to that, the PH presidential council slammed PN’s tactic of using enforcement agencies to intimidate opposition MPs into defecting.
“The PH presidential council has been informed of actions by agencies, including MACC, the Inland Revenue Board and police, towards opposition lawmakers, their officers and families.”
The coalition said it understands this has happened repeatedly to pressure MPs into pledging their support for Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who has yet to prove he has the majority in Parliament.
“We support actions that are based on the rule of law. But, the abuse of institutions or law enforcement agencies to annoy, pressure or intimidate political enemies is unacceptable.”
MACC has denied allegations that it is being used as a “political weapon”.
“MACC firmly emphasises that it is an independent investigative agency that always ensures its actions are done according to the law, and without political leanings.
“The accusations are unfounded and irresponsible, which may tarnish the reputation of MACC and create a negative perception of the commission.” – The Vibes, May 4, 2021
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