There is no indication of police ranks being purchased and disgruntled officers who failed to get a promotion or position could be behind such claims, said the force's integrity and standard compliance department (ISCD) director Azri Ahmad.
However, he pledged to investigate the matter if there is concrete proof of such wrongdoing.
Azri (above) was commenting on the case involving a woman in Klang, who claimed that her police officer boyfriend had threatened to kill her over a sum of RM100,000 which she lent him.
The woman claimed that the suspect, who is a deputy superintendent (DSP), had borrowed the money to purchase his promotion to superintendent (Supt).
"ISCD will investigate if there is a complaint about a clear wrongdoing with clear proof,” Azri told Malaysiakini.
"For now, investigations (by ISCD) is focused on the report lodged concerning the police DSP.
"There has been no evidence from either the woman or the subject (DSP) which showed that such activities (buying promotions) happened," he added.
On Monday, Malay-daily Kosmo quoted ex-police association president Hussin Awang Ngah as claiming that offering bribes in return for promotions has been happening.
He claimed that most of those involved were officers in the criminal investigation department and narcotics investigation department.
Hussin added that these officers are believed to have bribed members of the police interview panel besides certain parties within the police management department.
The newspaper also interviewed former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan, who confirmed such pactices but described them as "isolated cases".
However, he was not certain if this was still ongoing.
Stringent selection process
Meanwhile, Azri said there is a stringent process with regard to promotions and positions. These promotions and positions are in limited numbers compared to eligible candidates.
He added that apart from seniority, there are also other requirements which must be met.
Due to this, Azri said, those who do not get promoted or the positions desired become frustrated and start peddling rumours of corruption and favouritism, especially when a younger officer is selected.
"How I see it is that some people make noise when they don't get the rank or position they want. For example, the superintendent rank... when there is an opening, there may be only one position available but the number of candidates can be as high as 10 or 20.
"It does not mean the most senior DSP would get it. Sometimes, a position needs to be filled by a physically fit officer. In such cases, the post might go to a candidate who is younger.
"On top of this, there are also other issues that need to be considered. A candidate must be qualified. There are positions which are not suitable for officers from other departments," he explained.
Commenting on the Klang case, Azri said this is the first time he had encountered such an allegation in a police report and the DSP involved has denied it.
Investigations are still ongoing in this particular case.
Sources claim things can be 'arranged'
Several sources, including serving and former officers, claimed there were also other forms of corruption with regard to securing promotions or transfers.
This allegedly included paying “fixers” within the force to arrange for transfers while those who sit for an examination can purportedly alter their results.
“Such things have been happening for a long time but there is no proof. These people are not stupid, they know how to cover their tracks.
"This is unfair to others who do their job with dedication but get sidelined,” claimed one former officer.
The source claimed that he too was offered an easy route to pass his law examination when he was still serving but declined.
"I was not interested as I could answer the papers.
"I know someone who took an examination to qualify for the rank of assistant superintendent... We knew he failed two papers, but when the results came, he passed all the papers,” he added.
Another source, who is a rank-and-file personnel, claimed that corruption happened among them as well in order to secure a transfer to a particular police station, department or division.
"This might cost a few thousand ringgit. But the sum can be paid in stages,” he alleged. - Mkini
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