Gobind: Internal inquiry won't do, MACC must probe IGP's cartel claim

 

Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo said internal inquiries are unlikely to be able to tackle large issues such as the cartel and corruption exposed by IGP Abdul Hamid Bador recently, and has called on the MACC to launch a full and open investigation.

Gobind (above) was reacting to a Straits Times report in which the IGP said several former Integrity and Standard Compliance Department (Jips) officers had allowed those who “passed favours to investigators” to be let off scot-free, instead of being charged or transferred out of their positions.

Saying that the police department's disciplinary committee was guilty of cover-ups, Hamid claimed "so-called investigations would often stumble upon a dead end, and when that happens, no action can be taken against their friends (who are being investigated)."

Gobind said this statement raised the question as to whether internal inquiries could address the issue.

"The head of the MACC said he is confident that an internal inquiry was sufficient. He should seriously reconsider this and take firm action by ordering a full investigation under the MACC Act immediately," Gobind said in a statement on his Facebook page.

MACC Chief Commissioner Azam Baki earlier said that the MACC does not intend to interfere in the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM)'s "cartel" issue because it is the police's internal problem.

He said the MACC was confident with the ability and credibility of the PDRM to address the issue, and that Hamid had also stated that the problem could be resolved.

"This issue can be addressed by the police and it's a closed issue. So I don't think there is a need for the MACC to intervene in the matter," said Azam on March 26.

Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador

Hamid had previously exposed the existence of a movement among young PDRM officers looking to topple him and claimed it was the same group that intended to dominate the police force for their personal benefit.

He said that since he became the top cop, police had identified and transferred fewer than 10 officers out of the department.

On alleged interference in the transfer exercise involving senior police officers, Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin denied he was involved.

He said any transfer exercise of senior police officers was a decision of the Police Force Commission (SPP). - Mkini