Major police reshuffle to give opportunities to new senior officers - IGP

 

The recent major reshuffle of senior police officers is aimed at giving opportunities to new officers to take up such posts, said Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Abdul Hamid Bador.

"The transfer of senior officers is not because of certain cases and so on as some have to be replaced by new people, while some senior police officers who may have served for a long time or have not been promoted need to be changed," he said in an interview with Bernama in Kuala Lumpur today.

Hamid said this was because some senior police officers have long resided, served, and held their posts in specific places.

Earlier, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) issued a statement that 71 senior officers were involved in the reshuffling exercise effective April 12.

Among those involved were Kuala Lumpur police chief Saiful Azly Kamaruddin who has been transferred to the Bukit Aman Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department as deputy department director, while Petaling Jaya police chief ACP Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal would be appointed as Selangor Criminal Investigation Department chief with the rank of acting SAC.

On the investigation into a Macau scam that allegedly involved police officers,  Hamid said the police have received all statements recorded by the MACC.

“I will leave the case investigation to the Integrity and Standard Compliance Department (Jips) to carry out its probe which will take between a month to two months.

“When Jips handed me the investigation report, I found 31 police officers and personnel were involved in the case so it has to be studied as it is very serious,” he said.

Hamid said the power to decide on the punishment of police officers and men over disciplinary problems would be decided by the Police Force Commission (SPP).

SPP comprises of eight individuals including the Home Minister, Home Ministry secretary-general, IGP, a Public Service Commission representative, a representative of the judiciary, and a representative of retired police officers.

“Let the SPP look into the case on whether to terminate, demote, fine, or pardon the officers or personnel involving disciplinary problems,” he said.

Last December, the media reported that 29 police personnel including a senior police officer with the rank of DCP were being investigated over Macau scams and online gambling involving one Zaidi Kanapiah, also known as Addy Kanna.

All individuals would be thoroughly investigated especially on owning extraordinary wealth compared to their post and salary.

- Bernama