A few good men in Bukit Aman

To those of us keeping a close eye on developments in the Royal Malaysia Police, we must have noticed that there has been a serious revamp in Bukit Aman over the past few months, hopefully for the better.

I believe there are a few good men at the top in Bukit Aman now who are actually serious about their job as police and law enforcers.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has projected himself as a leader with zero tolerance for corruption and I believe it is also his wish to have clean and trustworthy leaders at the helm in Bukit Aman.

I see Anwar’s hand in the appointment of top cops and a succession plan in the Royal Malaysia Police aimed at ensuring that only forthright and incorruptible men head the police force over the next decade, at least.

(I also expect the prime minister to spearhead an “overhaul” of the MACC in due course.)

Four months ago, in June, Razarudin Husain was appointed the new inspector-general of police (IGP), while Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay was made his deputy.

Razarudin is on a contractual appointment and will serve as IGP for two years effective from June 23, 2023, until June 22, 2025. After that, Ayob Khan is expected to succeed him.

Meanwhile, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain gained a boost in his profile when he issued a stern warning to rank-and-file officers who are allegedly colluding with criminal syndicates, including leaking enforcement information that could put police lives at risk.

Shuhaily’s (above) message was distinct and clear. He is watching his men, and they continue their wayward ways at severe risk of disciplinary action.

His speech, shared widely on social media, has also generated no small amount of good buzz among the people.

A dear friend, a doctor who runs a private hospital in Johor, responded to my sharing of the speech with this message: “Just the guy we need. There is hope for us after all.”

With this, I’m prepared to speculate that Shuhaily will likely take over as deputy IGP to Ayob Khan in 2025.

This leadership succession plan in Bukit Aman is already in place and I believe I’m not way off to say that the Ayob Khan-Shuhaily combo is the best thing to happen in Bukit Aman for a long while.

Ayob Khan, 57, and Shuhaily, 52, may be the younger, dynamic duo which the police need at this crucial juncture.

Deputy IGP Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay

It does not matter if similarly stern warnings have not been effective in achieving their objectives in the past. With every fresh warning, there is hope that something will happen to uplift the poor image of the police force.

Really, sometimes, all it takes is for one top officer from Bukit Aman to make a straight-from-the-heart speech to his subordinates telling them to “change or be changed” to make a difference.

Such messages instil public confidence and make people believe that the police are about to weed out bad hats at last. It is then about living up to public expectations.

Credit where it’s due

In the meantime, it is Razarudin’s task to further groom and prepare his two younger colleagues for their key roles to come.

Those who have worked with Razarudin know that their boss is a humble yet tough guy who will leave no stone unturned to get the job done, and at the same time, get the best out of his subordinates.

There is no better mentor to the younger Ayob Khan and Shuhaily than their big boss now, Razarudin.

My felicitations to the few good men in Bukit Aman and I sincerely hope that they will persevere and give their all to the onerous tasks of giving their level best to law enforcement and, most importantly, stay humble and true to themselves.

A policeman’s job is never easy. When it is done well, I believe they all deserve a pat on the back and a word of encouragement.

So, to them, I say - Well done, and keep up the good work. - Mkini

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FRANCIS PAUL SIAH is a veteran Sarawak editor and heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS). He can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.