A lawmaker has demanded that Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin be investigated for alleged interference in the appointment of a new inspector-general of police (IGP).
Meru assemblyperson Mohd Fakhrulrazi Mohd Mokhtar, who lodged a police report on this last night, said replacing the IGP during an emergency was also unlawful.
Fakhrulrazi (above) added that Hamzah's admission yesterday over the authenticity of an audio clip where the latter spoke about restructuring police top brass was proof of interference.
"This is clearly an abuse of power and interference by a minister who is suspected to have bad motives, bias and (his action) has tarnished the police's image," he said.
According to Article 140(1) of the Federal Constitution, the police force commission is responsible for all promotion, transfer and disciplinary actions over police personnel.
As home minister, Hamzah chairs the commission, which among other duties, makes recommendations to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for the appointment of top positions in the police service.
The audio clip in question - likely a telephone conversation - depicted Hamzah claiming that he will recommend for the Agong to appoint an "Ipoh boy" who "will be very good for us" as the new IGP.
Yesterday, Hamzah handed an appointment letter to Deputy IGP Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, who will replace outgoing IGP Abdul Hamid Bador on May 4.
Fakhrulrazi's police report also claimed that Hamzah had violated Section 15 of the Police Act 1967 which forbids police personnel from retiring or resigning during war or while a proclamation of emergency is in force, unless recommended by the IGP.
When the appointment letter was handed to Acryl yesterday, no emergency ordinance had been gazetted to suspend or abolish Section 15 of the Police Act 1967.
However, an emergency ordinance can have retrospective powers.
In his final press conference yesterday as IGP, Abdul Hamid accused Hamzah of meddling with the appointment of senior police personnel.
He also accused Hamzah of only convening police force commission meetings four times a year instead of monthly.
Describing it as more of a "coffee session" than an actual meeting, Abdul Hamid claimed that Hamzah did not take the meetings seriously.
Abdul Hamid was appointed IGP in 2019 on a two-year contract. - Mkini
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