The only way to restore public trust and respect to the Royal Malaysian Police force is to set up an independent body to appoint the inspector-general police (IGP), Najib Abdul Rahman said.

Speaking to Malaysiakini in an exclusive interview, Najib, a veteran journalist who is the son of former IGP Abdul Rahman Hashim, also wishes to see the 'men in blue' to be well respected in the eyes of the public.

"Personally, I feel sad for the thousands of honest men out there who serve well and to have a leader who has let them down very miserably.

"Which is why, I believe, there should be an independent body to elect the IGP, beyond the influence of the prime minister and the home minister.

"When that happens, we can get an IGP who can respond to the people. The only thing is whether the government has the will to do that," Najib added.

His father Abdul Rahman Hashim ( photo ) helmed the police force from February 1973 until he was gunned down in July 1974 by two men, believed to be communists.

Najib pointed out that the chief of the police force serves as the 'spine' to the body and a strong core is needed to maintain good integrity in the eyes of the public.

"The IGP is the spine of the police force. The ‘spine’ has to be strong. If we have an IGP who is ‘spineless’, you’re finished.

"We can have an impartial police force, but can this be done? A good leader must have a strong personal constitution. That’s a prerequisite for an IGP and it should be based on meritocracy," Najib said.

‘I was shocked’

He said he was shocked to hear that the former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamed is to be called in for questioning by the police for his brief presence at the Bersih 4 rally last weekend.

Mahathir is to be investigated under Section 500 of the Penal Code on criminal defamation for the remarks he made during Bersih 4.

"Oh my goodness, that line about questioning the ‘old man’, that wasn’t his call.

"Surprised is a real understatement. Actually, I was shocked. You want to question Mahathir? He doesn’t care. He will do what he wants to do. He thinks that his conscience is clear, he is very sure of it," Najib said.

IGP needs to control the damage

He believes that his father would not have allowed such events as calling in of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation officers for questioning by the police.

He feels that the astute judgment in investigation skills of the police force have been since been impaired.TheIGP, he added, has to know how to control the damage to the police force.

Asked about the ways to repair the 'damaged' image of the police force, Najib said the IGP needs to have 'policemanship' in him.

"What is policemanship? It is the standard operating procedure (SOP) of being a policeman. When you have to investigate, you investigate.

"You don’t prosecute those who are investigating. It has to be a rightful prosecution," he added.

A 'true' IGP will protect his men

Commenting on the transfer of the former deputy director of the police Special Branch, Najib said the officer is among those with high credibility and astute.

The former No 2 in the Special Branch, Abdul Hamid Bador, was on Aug 18, to his great shock, issued a letter of transfer to the Prime Minister's Department.

"Officers like him are the potential future IGPs. The fact that they are courageous to take up the task to investigate 1MDB shows that their character of a future IGP, to seek out the truth for the people.

"We need people like them. These are the people you kena jaga, kena pelihara (need to look after)," he said.

Najib added that he assumed IGP Khalid Abu Bakar ( photo ) was in a tight situation and that the decision of to transfer Hamid Bador was carried out 'over the IGP's head', despite signing the letter of transfer himself.

"I believe that he signed the letter with a ‘gun to his head’, figuratively.

"There is no way, a ‘true’ IGP will allow that to happen. I can’t imagine my old man doing that.

"IGP Khalid knows his score (on his performance), that his action has caused the police force to be divided. He has to make his decision, his personal constitution," Najib said.

Public perception at its worst now

Despite poor public perception towards the police force being at its worst, Najib still believes there is hope to defend the image of the force.

"All is not that lost, we still have hope in them. It all depends on IGP Khalid. He has to stand up to protect the sanctity of the PDRM.

"He (Khalid) must understand the true meaning of 'sacrifice' for the country. If he fails to do it, he will be 'sacrificed'.

"We must remember that when we die, we leave with a legacy to remember. If you see my dad, he was not rich," Najib said.

Yesterday: Stand up for your force, ex-IGP's son tells Khalid

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