Ex-IGP’s claim of cartel within police force ‘unverifiable’, says commission

Claims that a cartel exists within the Royal Malaysian Police as put forth by former inspector-general of police Abdul Hamid Bador are unverifiable, the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) said today.

EAIC chairman Mohd Sidek Hassan said the conclusion was based on the findings of the commission’s investigation of witness testimonies and documents obtained.

The investigation’s findings and EAIC’s conclusion have been forwarded to the chief secretary of the government, he said, adding that the investigation into the claims was complete.

He said the investigation revealed basis that police officers were involved in criminal syndicate activities, and that investigations into the officers involved are being conducted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the police.

“However, Hamid’s claim that officers were involved in arranging positions in the police force to control the team for personal gain could not be verified,” he said in a statement today.

He said testimonies obtained by the EAIC showed that the appointment, promotion and transfer mechanisms practised by the police force and the Police Force Commission (PFC) involved a detailed process with several layers that were hard to breach or be manipulated by outside parties.

In addition, Sidek said the inspector-general of police is a permanent member of the PFC and any suggestions regarding the appointment, promotion or transfer of senior police officers require his approval.

“Hamid’s position as inspector-general of police was also not jeopardised as his appointment was based on the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong upon the advice of the prime minister,” he said.

On March 18 and 22 last year, Hamid alleged that there was a group of police officers out to topple him who were conspiring with outside parties to form a cartel to dominate the police force for their own agenda.