Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar has been criticised for failure to resolve the issue of illegal gambling in the country. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, October 26, 2014.
Utusan Malaysia today took a swipe at Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar for failing to resolve the issue of illegal gambling in the country.
The Umno-owned newspapers' editors, writing under the pseudonym Awang Selamat, said that as the top cop in the country, Khalid must send a strong and convincing signal to the public that he was committed to combating crime.
But Awang said Khalid had never taken part in any raids on illegal gambling centres.
"Some ask, when was the last time Khalid took part in any raid on an illegal gambling outlet? Awang is unable to answer and cannot recall.
"There is no point if you operate based on rhetoric alone by issuing warnings, yet in reality the problem is still widespread," Awang said in the Mingguan Malaysia Sunday column.
He said that Khalid's approach in resolving the issue was vastly different to how he managed the Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) issue in Penang.
"Awang can praise Khalid's firmness in handling the PPS issue to the point that the organisation was crippled within a short period of time.
"But it's curious that he is not so fierce and proactive when it comes to stopping illegal gambling," said Awang.
He was commenting on the recent exposure by an NGO that more than 25,000 gambling outlets were operating illegally in the country.
Awang said it was not impossible for the authorities to resolve the problem as Khalid had the authority to close down such outlets.
"Khalid, as the IGP, need only to issue a few words: 'I do not want any more illegal gambling outlets to exist'.
"The district police chiefs are awaiting such clear orders," he said.
However, Awang urged the public to give Khalid a chance, especially in cleaning up the police force's image.
"It's certainly easy for anyone holding such a position to be exposed to accusations and misunderstanding.
"I'm sure Khalid is well aware that the IGP must be clean and appear clean. Give him a chance to prove himself through effective action."
- TMI
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