KUALA LUMPUR – Pakatan Harapan Youth has urged Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani to respond to his predecessor’s claims of power abuse by Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.
Wing chief Shazni Munir Mohd Ithnin said Acryl Sani should respond to Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador’s allegations as the matter concerns his integrity as the nation’s new top cop.
“I’m sure that the IGP wants to do a better job than the one before, and I am confident that in the near future, he (Acryl Sani) can respond to this serious issue.”
He said Acryl Sani should at least speak up on an audio recording of a man, purportedly Hamzah, asking who are his “budak” (underlings) in the force.
“I feel that the term is very ‘kurang ajar’ (rude), and should not be likened to an authoritative body. At the very least, he (Acryl Sani) must voice out on the credibility of police.”
Shazni Munir said this during a press conference after lodging a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission over Hamid’s allegations of graft related to party-hopping, Hamzah’s alleged interference in the appointment of senior police officials, and the minister’s purported abuse of power in relation to Special Branch (SB).
The report was made at the Kuala Lumpur MACC office in Cheras here this afternoon.
Present were PKR Youth vice-chief Syed Badli Shah Syed Osman and DAP Youth chief Howard Lee.
Earlier today, five opposition MPs lodged a report at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters over Hamid’s “explosive” accusations made last Friday.
The PH leadership will keep the pressure on Putrajaya to form a royal commission of inquiry into the former top cop’s allegations of political meddling in the force, among others, said PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil.
A separate complaint has been filed over Hamzah’s alleged interference in the appointment of the Special Branch chief.
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 Hamzah in the appointment of the SB chief.
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
