TWO days ago, former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said that the previous Pakatan Harapan government had abolished three elite police squads during its short administration.
In a message to commemorate Police Day, he reminisced the time where among others, the-then Barisan Nasional government had upgraded the Investigation and Traffic Enforcement Department (JPST) to strengthen the unit.
“We also established three elite squads within the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) to combat organised crime by hunting down the ‘sharks’ running them.
“They were the Special Task Force for Anti-Vice, Gambling and Gangsterism (STAGG), Special Task Force on Organised Crime (STAFOC) and Special Tactics and Intelligence Narcotics Group (STING).
“However, after the BN Government got voted out in the last general election, the three elite squads got disbanded by the new administration,” Astro Awani reported the Bagan Datuk MP as saying.
However, the irony of Zahid’s statement was not missed by netizens, who took to social media to mock him.
User Mahadhir Mohamad said:
(What’s the point having elite squads when Malaysia is rated one of the highest in the world when it comes to corruption index?)
Echoing Mahadhir’s sentiments, user All Green added:
(What’s the point having elite squads when they cannot apprehend corrupt ministers? Just disband them)
Netizen Edy retorted: 
(Yes, better to disband the elite squads if their job is only about protecting corrupt ministers like Zahid and Bossku, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak)
Focus on good governance, efficiency
In August 2020, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin announced that the Government has no plans to reinstate the elite squads.
“PDRM has studied the matter thoroughly. Bear in mind that they were disbanded in July 2018 so that their functions won’t overlap with PDRM’s existing structure,” the Larut MP was reported as saying.
On that note, user Drs Marul reminded Zahid that Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin served as home minister during Pakatan’s reign, who later became prime minister with UMNO’s support.
(Muhyiddin was the home minister then, the guy who called himself Abah for Perikatan Nasional, PAS and BN)
Netizen Matt Desa remarked:
(If their functions overlap with the existing structure, then it is better to disband them. Improve on your current performance, stay away from corruption and practise good governance and efficiency). — March 27, 2022
