No, IGP Ismail Omar has not died in London - police confirm

Malaysian police have denied swirling speculation that Inspector-General Ismail Omar had died in London, assuring that the top cop was in good health and on a working visit to the UK.

"Rumours that the Inspector-General of Police has passed away in London are totally unfounded," the police said in its Facebook page.

Taking orders from Umno

Ismail took over from the controversial Musa Hassan in 2010, but has become just as unpopular for blatantly taking the cue from top Umno leaders rather than remain politically neutral.

Ismail also incurred infamy for carrying out one of the toughest crackdowns against civilians in recent history, when his men deliberately shot umpteen rounds of tear gas and acid water into peaceful protesters taking part in the July 9 Bersih rally for free and fair elections.

Last year in April, Ismail collapsed during the monthly morning assembly at the police headquarters at Bukit Aman and had to be hospitalized.

The police denied he had suffered a heart attack and blamed his fainting spell to "exhaustion".

Malaysia Chronicle