Ex-top cop joins PAS to 'uphold democracy'

Former Bukit Aman CID chief Fauzi Shaari joined PAS so that he can be involved in the Islamic struggle and to uphold democratic principles.

"Hopefully, there is room for me to support the party cause," Fauzi said when contacted by Malaysiakini.

He joined the Islamist party in his home state of Perak last Sunday.

The 62-year-old stressed that he was not joining PAS to be a candidate in the coming election but that he hoped his experience and influence would have a positive impact on the party.

Fauzi said he would let dust whipped by the news of him joining PAS to settle before he issued more comments.

"I do not want to increase the pressure further. Wait for a few days until this issue cools down," said Fauzi, who has received negative response from the Malaysian Ex-Police Officers Association.

Described as a traitor
Association president Shafie Bakri described Fauzi joining PAS as an act "treacherous to the government" and that Fauzi had hurt many former police officers by his decision.

Fauzi joined PAS at an event held in Larut, Perak, where he handed his application form to party president Abdul Hadi Awang.

His joining PAS comes six years after retiring from the police force.

Fauzi is the most senior former police officer to join PAS thus far, which could help boost the Islamic party's standing among the Umno-dominated civil service.

The Islamic party is also wooing another top cop, Ramli Yusof, the former Commercial Crimes Investigation Department.

But Ramli, who has been critical of corruption in the police force, has yet to confirm his decision.

Another top cop, former Kuala Lumpur CID chief Mat Zain Ibrahim, who has been issuing a battery of press statements on issues of abuse of power, has however said he was not interested in joining a political party.

Yesterday, former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan claimed that he was approached by the opposition when he was still serving as police chief.