KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Abdul Hamid Bador, who caused a stir by refusing to clock-in following his transfer to another department four years ago, has been elevated as the nation’s number-two cop.
Commissioner Hamid, 58, who was the Special Branch chief, was given the acting duties after taking over from retiring deputy Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tan Sri Noor Rashid Ibrahim, who will complete his service this Sunday.
IGP Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun witnessed the simple ceremony at the police training centre in Jalan Semarak.
Fuzi, who is due to retire in May, announced that Hamid would serve in an acting capacity, pending an official announcement by the Home Ministry soon.
Media reports had tipped Hamid as heir-apparent, to be slotted as the nation’s top cop later, when there is a reshuffle of the police top brass.
This also follows the retirement of federal Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd today and Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohmad Salleh who will retire in April.
Should Hamid be elevated as IGP, Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani is reported to be a prime candidate to be deputy IGP.
In 2015, Hamid, was hastily transferred out from the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman to the Prime Minister’s Department for being overly critical, at the height of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) investigations.
Hamid, however, courted controversy when he refused to clock-in at Putrajaya, alleging that there was a cover-up in the investigations.
Following Barisan Nasional’s defeat after 61 years in power in the 14th General Election on May 9 last year, Hamid was reinstated and appointed Special Branch director, taking over from Datuk Seri Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff.
Hamid had been slated for a meteoric rise after having served the force for 37 years at that time, after holding various key positions.
In his farewell speech, Noor Rashid said he was leaving the force with a heavy heart.
“I am trying hard to control my emotions.
“I will miss all of you as I am sad to leave my officers who had been with me during my difficult times.
“I am going away to spend more time with my wife and family,” said Noor Rashid, who expressed confidence in Hamid.
Noor Rashid added that he planned to write a book about his experiences with the police force and the struggles they faced, so that the public were aware of it.