KOTA KINABALU – The police need to come clean by initiating an investigation into allegations of political meddling to protect their integrity, said two Sabah assemblymen.
DAP’s Luyang rep Ginger Phoong and Upko’s Kadamaian assemblyman Datuk Ewon Benedict said the police must assure the public that they are not being used to protect certain political interests.
Following Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin’s admission to being the voice in an audio clip discussing the appointments of senior officers, Benedict said the people need to know the truth and the findings of the probe must be made public.
“The people deserve the best from the police and should not see them being used for political gain. Politicians should not be given the power to determine the police leadership – it will greatly affect their role as law enforcers.
“But what Malaysians are seeing now is senior police appointments being allegedly made by a politician for his interest. The role of the police in keeping the peace and enforcing the law is no longer respected, if (the allegation) is true,” said Benedict at the Karamunsing police station here today.
Meanwhile, the two elected representatives alleged inaction on the part of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission over political “frogs”.
Benedict said there has been several reports from elected representatives over attempts to “buy” political allegiance in Sabah and yet, no action has been taken from the authorities over such matters.
Phoong said many Sabah lawmakers have come forward to the police or made public alleged offers from unknown agents to switch sides.
MACC commissioner Datuk Seri Azam Baki yesterday said there is no legislation against party-hopping and anyone is free to switch political parties.
Last Friday, Hamzah had confirmed the leaked audio recording of a discussion on the appointment of senior police officers was authentic.
“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 then inspector-general of police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador’s successor.
He said the clip was 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 the minister.
“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,” he was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today.
“I want to clarify that the (home minister’s) responsibility as chairman of the Police Force Commission has a limit.”
He also said Hamzah pushed to determine police officers’ placement.
Hamid added that many investigations into police misconduct carried out by the commission chaired by Hamzah have been suspended, and it meets only four times a year.
On April 13, Hamzah reportedly denied having undue influence over the transfer of senior police officers.
Earlier this month, a viral Facebook post stated the involvement of the home minister in the affairs of police regarding the postponed transfer of senior cops. – The Vibes, May 5, 2021
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