KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar today officially handed over the country’s top cop position, the Inspector-General of Police, to Special Branch Director Datuk Seri Fuzi Harun.
The handing over was made following Khalid's retirement as he turns 60 tomorrow.
The handover ceremony was witnessed by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol), Jalan Semarak, here.
The ceremony saw the signing of the handing-over documents and receipt of the position by Fuzi.
Khalid in his speech congratulated Fuzi over the new appointment, and said he is confident that the police force would continue to strive under the new leadership.
"I am confident that under the new leadership, the force would still be a dynamic and progressive team which are able to uphold the nation's sovereignty," he said.
Khalid who maintained his cool during the speech, also thanked Zahid, who is also the Home Minister, for all the support and trust he had given him during his tenure.
"I am thankful that I am fated to be a policeman as it is a noble profession. It has given me the chance to fight what's wrong and uphold what is right.
"It is time for me to leave the force. I accept it with open arms... I have given my all and my best, there is nothing to be considered as unfinished business that I need to fulfil," he said.
The ceremony also saw the handover of duties between Police Family Association ( Perkep) chairman Puan Sri Imran Ibrahim and Datin Seri Azizah Hamdi.
Meanwhile, Deputy IGP Noor Rashid Ibrahim retained his position while former Narcotics Crime Investigation Department Director Datuk Seri Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff will assume the Special Branch Department director position.
Also present during the ceremony were Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed, Deputy Home Minister 2 Datuk Masir Kujat, and senior police officers.
Khalid, who hails from Seremban, Negri Sembilan, has 40 years of experience with the police force.
He joined the police at the age of 19 on December 5, 1976 with the rank of Inspector before climbing up the career ladder.
Among the important posts he had held were as Negri Sembilan police chief (2005), federal police CID deputy director (2006), Selangor police chief (2007), federal police director of Internal Security and Public Order (2010) and Deputy IGP (2011).
Khalid was appointed as IGP on May 17, 2013, succeeding Tan Sri Ismail Omar with the end of latter’s service contract.
Among the high-profile cases under his purview included the disappearance of flight Malaysia Airlines MH370, downing of MH17, the murder of deputy public prosecutor Kevin Morais, and assassination of North Korean Kim Jong Nam.