Ramli: Is Musa jealous of my official send-off?

Former CCID director Ramli Yusuff believes former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan could be jealous that present IGP Ismail Omar had given him a proper retirement ceremony last month.

"I believe (that Musa) was envious as when he retired, Ismail did not give him anything (a proper send-off). But I got that honour."

Ramli reached compulsory retirement age on March 1, 2008. But he was embroiled in a court case where he was accused of non-disclosure of his assets.

After five years, the courts cleared him, clearing the way for his official sendoff.

"I think that was why Musa (left) was bitter with Ismail. If Musa wants to be accorded the same ceremony, please ask the IGP nicely. Why must Musaattack Ismail in the open?" he quipped, adding that both Musa and Ismail had served under him in the CID for six years.

Ramli also said that during his time there was no intervention by the executive nor the home minister as police were able to do their job professionally.

"As policemen, we can advise the cabinet ministers but they cannot tell us what to do. We are professionals and we are trained policemen, we are not politicians. Politicians, as lawmakers, have to work together with the police.

"During my time there was no interference from the Home Ministry. There was no such thing that you have to do this and do that," he retorted.

Musa had previously revealed that Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein had interfered with the police by giving directions to his subordinates.

Hishammuddin responded by asking why Musa had raised the issue only now, just as the general election was approaching and claimed what was brought up was a big lie.

Unreliable witness

Ramli said that former IGP Musa's Sabah case which was related to abuse of power, where the Sessions judge decided Musa was an unreliable witness when his testimony contradicted with other junior officers, showed what he was capable off.

"If this court's decision was made outside Malaysia, the person would have resigned like what had happened with the Singapore Parliament speaker who stepped down recently following allegations of a sex scandal."

Ramli claims that the former IGP is trying to re-invent his image with the recent public disclosure.

"My men have documents to show that Musa has links to the underworld through the likes of the Goh Cheng Poh (Tengku Goh) and BK Tan, who are his good friends.

"Musa was saying CCID cannot open case files against gambling operators. He should read the law carefully because all police officers with the required rank, have the powers to investigate."

The Tengku Goh and BK Tan links has been reported previously as the Copgate affair.

Ill-feelings
On the question as to why Musa had ill-feelings against him, Ramli disclosed that he had once issued a show-cause letter to Musa in 2001, for agreeing to disband police prosecuting officers.

"Musa represented me in that meeting which was chaired by his good friend Abdul Gani Patail, who was then head of prosecution in the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC).

"There, Musa agreed that young deputy public prosecutors from the AGC could conduct the prosecution in the magistrates and sessions court without consulting me or the then IGP, Norian Mai.

"Norian was upset with me following the decision as this involves policy matters and Musa should have consulted with the head of department or the IGP over this. As a result I had to issue the letter to Musa. The police protested heavily with the AGC.

"As a former officer in charge of the Kuala Lumpur courts with the rank of superintendent, I had handled 200 policemen including the police prosecutors and we are professional in our jobs and performed better than some of the young DPPs.

"Nevertheless, when Musa became IGP he pushed through the idea, resulting in the disbanding of police prosecutors," he said.

Ramli said as a result of him protesting the move to replace the police prosecutors, Musa and even Abdul Gani were unhappy with him.