Sever ties with gangs before it's too late, IGP warns officers

KUALA LUMPUR: Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador has warned his men to sever ties with criminal mobs before it’s too late.

He said, as long as they had not been nabbed, there was still time for them to disentangle themselves from the underworld.

“I have advised and given them an ultimatum to sever whatever ties or connection they may have with all these syndicates,” he told a media conference after attending the Op Selamat event in conjunction with Hari Raya at Menara TM, here, today.

“So, please do so before it’s too late.

“As long as you haven’t worn the orange jumpsuit yet, you still have time.

“Please remember the oath you took, swearing that you will uphold the law instead of getting involved in vice.”

Hamid expressed confidence that corrupt practices in the police force could be eradicated soon.

He added that he had full confidence in his men.

“As I’ve said, if there are 500 dirty cops, there are 125,000 more good cops, and I believe that my men are good.”

In an effort to motivate his officers to turn away from bribery, Hamid pledged to reward them with commendation letters as often as possible.

He said those who managed to stay away from “extraordinary” corrupt practices would be rewarded with “instant field promotion”.

“Normally we give the commendation letter, but in extraordinary cases I will go to the extent of promoting them instantly.”

On a separate matter, Hamid said he had yet to be briefed on the special taskforce to investigate police involvement in the disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat.

Hamid stressed that he agreed with the setting up of the task force but would have to meet with Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin before making further comments.

“But for me, I think it (the setting up of the task force) is the way to go,” he said.

The special task force will look into the findings of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) which claimed that the police Special Branch was behind the disappearance of the two activists.

Muhyiddin said the Cabinet had agreed to this and members of the task force would be announced soon.