Persatuan Patriot Kebangsaan (Patriot) has backed the move by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Abdul Hamid Bador to rotate sensitive posts in the police force more often in the future to avoid the possibility of misconduct.
Its president Mohamed Arshad Raji said this is important in keeping police officers in check and preserving a good image of the force.
"Patriot lauds the action taken by the IGP against his officers who had tarnished the good name of the police force," he said in a statement today.
He was responding to the IGP's issuance of transfer orders for senior officers from three critical departments that were responsible for investigation and eradication of crimes relating to gangsterism, narcotic, immorality and unlicensed gambling.
This followed the arrest last month by the MACC of 10 police officers alleged to have been involved in shielding the activities of a Macau scam that targeted China citizens.
"The IGP had on a number of occasions ordered his officers not to indulge in criminal activities or be seen to be in association with alleged criminals.
"Officers arrested appeared to have contravened the orders, and if proven guilty, deserve severe punishment. Needless to say, officers of the law must be examples of the highest discipline and nothing less," Mohamed Arshad added.
He warned that Abdul Hamid's tenure, which is set to expire on May 3, 2021, does not give enough time to weed out the undesirables from the force.
"Perceived as one of the most corrupt departments of the government, this unscrupulous act of the 10 police officers has further eroded public perception of the police.
"Patriot believes the IGP had tried his best to fulfil the pledge he previously made to cleanse the force of its bad image but (due to) the lure for ill-gotten wealth, those sworn and entrusted to keep the law had failed the IGP and the nation," he said.
Prior to this, Abdul Hamid was also reported to have said that all officers and personnel to be placed in the Anti-Vice, Gambling and Secret Societies Division (D7), Narcotic Criminal Investigation Department and the Criminal Investigation Department would be screened by a Bukit Aman special committee to ensure they had high integrity.
Mohamed Arshad said that with the retirement of the IGP drawing near, the burden to eradicate corruption rests heavily on the new leadership of the force.
"The successor must be an individual who is religiously and morally strong. Also, one who does not bend to political pressure or from those very high up, but steadfast in upholding the law and Constitution without fear and favour," he added.
He called on the government to show suitable moral leadership by demonstrating its own intolerance and firm action against corruption.
"Such failures fall squarely on ministerial responsibility. As the saying goes, a fish rots from the head.
"All that is needed is for the government leadership to genuinely show zero tolerance to corruption and those in high office to set a good example," Mohamed Arshad said. - Mkini
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