Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad claims to be in the dark over a reported July reshuffle of police top brass, while Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has denied that any such shake-up would occur. 

Both were commenting on a report by Singapore’s Straits Times, which claimed that inspector-general of police Mohamad Fuzi Harun would be the first on the chopping block.

Quizzed on this during a press conference in Japan today, Mahathir said: “I don't know anything about it.”

Muhyiddin later refuted the Straits Times report in a statement, but did concede that there could be a need for top brass to be replaced. 

“I deny the claim that there will be a major reshuffle involving the highest rungs of the royal police force next month, as published in the mass media.

“However, in line with the Pakatan Harapan government’s policy of prioritising good governance, I am studying to see if there is a need for a reshuffle of the police to be presented to the prime minister,” he said.

Neither Mahathir nor Muhyiddin responded to another claim made in the report, that of three police departments slated to be dissolved and their heads sacked over allegations of corruption. 

These are the Special Taskforce for Anti-vice, Gaming and Gangsterism (Stagg), Special Taskforce on Organised Crime (Stafoc), and Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group (Sting).

A source had told the Straits Times that these departments were offering protection to the very criminals they were tasked with apprehending.