YOURSAY | 'It's shocking that lower-ranked officers can and would conspire to topple the IGP.'

IGP claims cartel within police force out to topple him - report

Echo: A cartel within the police undermining the leadership of the inspector-general of police (IGP) is a dangerous phenomenon that should be dealt with severely.

Since the days of previous IGPs, there is the public perception that unethical conduct was creeping into the ranks of the once well-regarded force. And the elevation of Abdul Hamid Bador as IGP started as a good move to redeem the stature of the force.

By his own admission, this seems to be proving difficult and that should be worrying to elected officials. One wonders if select elements entrenched within the force are already mining the lucrative aspects of being in the force at present times.

FairMind: “So I (Hamid) ask them (police cartel) to repent. When you are 60, you will hang up your blue uniform. Nobody will be afraid of you then and, at that time, I hope you don't regret,” said Hamid.

Why should these young officers regret when they have ample time to accumulate their ill-gotten gains throughout their time in the police force? Up to the point when they have millions of cash lying in their houses, own several large mansions, drive flashy expensive cars, and wine and dine beautiful women?

This outburst by the IGP clearly shows that the police’s problems are much bigger than the entire force can handle and that the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) is not only the only solution but is needed fast!

Hamid, do you just want to be a gardener after you retire or do you want to go down in history as the one who reformed the police force by helping to implement the IPCMC?

The Wakandan: In 2015, Hamid was removed from his post and transferred to the Prime Minister's Department. He alleged the transfer was part of a cover-up in the 1MDB investigations and insisted not to back down from criticising the police’s handling of the probe. That earned him public favour.

However, as an IGP, he seems to be not strong or forceful enough to use his position (as top cop) to change the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM). Perhaps he was only disagreeing with 1MDB and, now, he views the PDRM as a family whom he does not have the heart to discipline. He nevertheless stands out among his predecessors.

We can also deduce that, despite being the IGP, he is hapless in instituting major changes. It is obviously a big can of worms.

P Dev Anand Pillai: This is a classic example of us being a nation that thrives on corruption. This is a decent police chief we have. We ought to support him in his time of need.

If they are brave enough to even challenge the police chief, these elements in the police will destroy whatever good is being done to discipline the force to make it a trustworthy and professional crime-fighting organisation.

Is this a cry for help from the IGP? One hopes Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin will hear him out and support him.

Vijay47: Hamid, all this copious lamenting and beating of breasts may be good for Hindi movies but they don’t wash, nor do they sell.

A police conspiracy against you? That surely comes with the turf. Remember the police’s response to the implementation of the IPCMC? The entire force, including senior officers, threatened ex-prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and he meekly caved in.

Removing you may not be too bad an idea. If you only executed responsibilities firmly, fairly and openly, you may have earned more respect and support from us.

You claim credit for attempting to improve PDRM but why is punishment for errant officers, if any, always carried out behind the scenes? Have any police officers been charged in court?

A few division and state heads should have been sacked. That would have been far more assuring than seemingly toothless growling. And as many have asked many times before, what action have you taken against deaths in police custody?

Every time there is a report against an opposition leader, you spring into action. That is fine. But has anyone been charged with making a false report? Have you acted with matching alacrity when reports are filed against government leaders?

You want me to go on? What has happened to the investigation into the daylight abductions of pastor Raymond Koh and activist Amri Che Mat? Where is kindergarten teacher M Indira Gandhi’s daughter? Where is that child-kidnapper? In Mongolia with Jho Low?

So you see, Hamid, spare us the sob stories. No tears will be shed if you are dragged off into the sunset.

PW Cheng: I am not sure what is happening behind the curtain. Is it made up to gain sympathy from Joe Public to portray resistance to change in his own force?

Being the top cop, if you cannot stand the heat, it’s either you get out from the kitchen or face it head on to clean up the big heap of rubbish accumulated throughout the years. If not, who is going to police the police?

The IPCMC could be a great help with what you are facing now, if what you say is true.

IndigoKite6964: Firstly, it’s alarming that lower-ranked officers can and would conspire to topple the IGP, whose appointment is recommended to the Agong by the prime minister.

Secondly, the police are an armed force. They carry guns and have all sorts of weapons at their disposal. Do you mean to say there is indiscipline in the ranks and these people have access to the kind of weapons that we on the streets will be sent to the gallows if we possess them?

How are we to defend ourselves if the police go amok to forcefully replace their leadership? Are we supposed to feel safe when we see a police officer?

Thirdly, the IGP is the top leader in the police force. How is he having a hard time finding these people and bringing them to task? Let's be clear, this is not just for drugs, corruption, or making advances to women at roadblocks. We are talking of something akin to insurrection within the ranks.

So, how am I supposed to feel? Sorry and pity for Hamid, our 'happy ending' IGP?

The Wakandan: This shows how extensive is the deep state within the police force. It’s so infested, its tentacles are everywhere, perhaps in high places too. It is not easy to clean and the fact that the IGP has to reveal this publicly may indicate the precarious situation he is in.

He is probably one of the straight ones, that’s why he finds himself having many enemies within the force wanting to finish him off. There is probably no clear-cut solution to this unless a total revamp is carried out. And God knows how difficult that is.

Hamid could take a leaf out of Frank Serpico’s book. In the 1960s, US police detective Serpico of the New York City Police Department blew the whistle on police corruption. The mayor appointed a commission to investigate. This resulted in the exposure of how deep corruption had crept into the force.

BusinessFirst: Indeed, this shows how ungovernable the PDRM has become.

We need real reform and we can start by having diversity in races and religions joining the force with equal opportunity for all to rise through the ranks and be promoted based on merit.

Dr Raman Letchumanan: Hamid, you were our hero just before GE14. You were removed by the political gang after you showed integrity. The rakyat in GE14 fought back, and you came back with a breath of fresh air and were rewarded. That political gang is now pacing up and down the courts.

Your job is not easy. I can see some of the controversial decisions were not of your own volition. You must be under tremendous pressure from those political masters practising double standards.

I still believe in you and so do the rakyat, I think. You are way, way above all your predecessors.

Please hold on. The young officers may not be the real culprits. There must be a new political gang behind them. As we did in GE14, we shall bring them down again. You won't walk alone. The police force needs to be cleaned up. You can do it.

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