MALAYSIAN Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador’s recent revelation that there are young Turks in the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) who are out to topple him is a matter of great concern.
The ‘cartel’, he claimed, consists of a group of young police officers who were unhappy and feel threatened with his strong anti-corruption stand.
According to The Malaysian Insight, sources from the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman said that the threats to topple Abdul Hamid are real as the IGP has been very open about combatting graft among police officers.
But perhaps what is more concerning is the fact that Minister in Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan has brushed off the need to establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate the allegations despite the backing from the Malaysian Bar.
The matter can be resolved by the Police Force Commission (SPP), the minister claimed.
“I think there is no need (to establish an RCI), as Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin had said it is an internal matter that can be handled by the SPP,” he said.
“The SPP is chaired by the Home Minister and the IGP is a member of the commission as well. I think it’s not a big problem to resolve, the SPP can solve police and personnel issues.”
If Takiyuddin brushing off the need for an RCI doesn’t faze you, perhaps his comment that “it is not a big problem to resolve” certainly would.
How is the plot to topple the IGP not a matter of serious concern?
Moreover, the Government cannot be expecting the police launch an internal investigation on their own personnel in situations like this, can they?
After all, there is a possibility that the alleged cartel might have already influenced other departments within the police force. What, then?
As Malaysian Bar President A G Kalidas puts it, the failure to establish an RCI on that matter would leave many questions unanswered over the revelation from the nation’s top cop, and I cannot agree more.
In fact, it might give people the idea that there are substantive problems within the PDRM, or that those in power have something to hide.
As it is, PDRM is already suffering a negative public perception, with the idea that unethical conduct was creeping into the ranks of the once well-regarded police force.
The existence of this police cartel would unfortunately be the straw that broke the camel’s back, and the claims were indeed true, the trust and confidence in the men and women in the police force would definitely suffer a huge blow.
The bottom line is that a transparent and independent investigation into Abdul Hamid’s allegation needs to be launched as soon as possible to clear the air, and an RCI is the smartest option moving forward. – March 23, 2021
