Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) has called for Hamzah Zainudin to be suspended as the home minister over a leaked audio recording in which he discussed appointing his "boy" to a key position in the police force.
Recently retired inspector-general of police Abdul Hamid Bador claimed Hamzah had wanted to replace the head of the police Special Branch after it refused to conduct political operations for him.
Pejuang pro-tem Youth chief Abu Hafiz Salleh Hudin (above) said Hamzah's suspension can facilitate the MACC and police investigations into possible abuse of power by the minister.
"We demand Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to ask Hamzah to go on leave or suspend him as minister to facilitate MACC and police investigations.
"Hamzah has admitted to (being the person in) the audio recording. Therefore, he should go on leave or be suspended," he told a press conference in Putrajaya today.
Yesterday, Pejuang pro-tem information chief Ulya Aqamah Husamudin had also lodged an MACC report against Hamzah.
In the recording, Hamzah had also discussed the appointment of state police chiefs. Hamid had accused the minister of interfering in the police force.
Hamzah had denied wrongdoing, stating that as the chairperson of the Police Force Commission, he is allowed to discuss such matters.
However, Abu Hafiz disputed this, pointing out that the discussion was outside of the Police Force Commission.
He also questioned what Hamzah meant by appointing "our boy" and that it will be "very good for us" in the leaked audio recording.
Abu Hafiz also urged the MACC not to wash its hands of the issue.
He pointed out that the MACC had failed to act in a previous leaked audio recording, purportedly of Muhyiddin offering positions in exchange for support.
Meanwhile, Umno Youth also lodged a police report over the alleged political interference in the police force.
Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said Hamid's revelations were very serious.
"Umno Youth wants an immediate investigation by the relevant agencies including the MACC," he said in a statement.
He said the MACC should summon Hamid for more information as the police force's credibility is at stake.
Meanwhile, Hamid was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian that he was prepared to facilitate the investigations.
"If they want my statement, I will go. Let the Bukit Aman leadership investigate. It is up to them to determine the crime," he said.
Hamid said he made the revelation to prevent the Special Branch from being used as a political tool. - Mkini
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