HOME Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail must be having a hard time dealing with the succession planning of Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) top brass to the extent that the actual date of the official hand-over of duty to the in-coming IGP was changed “at least thrice” in a span of three days.
It all started on Sunday (June 18) when The Star broke the news that Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani would step down to make way for new leadership in the police force this week – about four months before the end of his two-year contract on Oct 3.
Citing sources, the mainstream media revealed that preparations were underway for the handover-of-duties and “beating-of-retreat” ceremonies which are expected to take place at the Police Training Centre on Jalan Semarak on Friday (June 23).
The following day (Monday, June 20), Acryl Sani himself confirmed that he will leave the police force in July to take up another job.
The country’s top cop said he would step down in the first week of July, months before his extended employment contract was supposed to end in October.
“Yes, it is true that I will be stepping away from the police force in the first week of July. This decision was made due to an external offer that I will need to accept at this time,” he told Berita Harian.
A day later (Tuesday, Jan 21), the media went into a frenzy when a reliable source revealed that the handover-of-duties and “beating-of-retreat” will be held today (June 22) instead of Friday (June 23) or the first week of July.
One wonders if the ‘fickle-mindedness’ on the date for transition of authority from Acryl Sani to his successor Tan Sri Razarudin Husain who was the then Deputy IGP was purportedly done for security reasons or otherwise.
The indecisiveness is unhealthy for the reputation of the unity government in that Acryl Sani who today officially handed over his duty to Razarudin was stepping down about three-and-a-half-months before the end of his two-year contract on Oct 3.
Appointed as Malaysia’s 13th IGP replacing Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador in May 2021 (during the administration of eighth premier Tan Srri Muhyiddin Yassin), Acryl Sani was due for mandatory retirement when he turned 60 that year but the Home Ministry decided to extend his contract by two years.
Whatever the case is, Home Minister Saifuddin who was present to witness the handing of duty from Acryl Sani to Razarudin this morning has stated that there is nothing controversial about Acryl Sani stepping down early as the IGP.
After all, Saifuddin said he was comfortable working with Acryl Sani in managing issues related to peace and public order.
For the record, the appointments of Razarudin, 61, and Bukit Aman CID director Comm Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, 57, as the new Deputy IGP have received the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in accordance with Clause 4 and 5 of the Article 140 of the Federal Constitution following advice from the Prime Minister based on the recommendation of the Police Force Commission. – June 22, 2023
