Retiring M’sian Police Chief Alleges Corruption in Senior Ranks of Police Force

In the movies, when the protagonist gets stopped by a police officer for speeding, he coolly slides some cash over to the officer while facing the other way.

The officer then slyly pockets the cash and pretends that no offence had taken place.

While it looks cool in the movies, no resident would be pleased with corrupt officers taking bribes, as they’d be breaking their vow to uphold the law for some extra money.

But that may be happening in some parts of Malaysia.

Retiring M’sian Police Chief Alleges Corruption in Senior Ranks of Police Force

A retiring Malaysia police chief has rocked the country with allegations of corruption among senior ranks of the police force.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abdul Hamid Bador accused former police chiefs of using serving police officers in their schemes.

IGP Hamid dropped the bombshell just weeks before his retirement in May, claiming that these senior officers are still seeking such favours from the police even after they retired.

Nearly at the end of his tenure, IGP Hamid called for such illegal activities to stop.

“I urge my personnel to end this culture and come to their senses. The culture of taking money from the bottom to the top, for the IGP,” he said.

“It only takes one bad apple to ruin the whole institution, but can you imagine if we had hundreds?”, he told The Straits Times.

Shortly before, IGP Hamid said a “cartel” in the force was working against him so they could continue to dominate the institution and carry on with their misdeeds.

In response, Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin said it was the first time he had heard of the claim, and urged IGP Hamid to report the issue to the Police Force Commission (PFC).

Malaysian Officer With $330,000 in Accounts Among 29 Cops Probed Last December

Last December, a police inspector with RM1 million (S$330,000) in his bank was investigated by the central police headquarters for possible association with an alleged criminal.

The inspector was among 29 Malaysian police officers who were probed.

Earlier that month, the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) also said that elements of corruption had been found in connection with smuggling activities in the border.

At the time, IGP Hamid said that corruption has tarnished PDRM’s image and damaged the country’s reputation.

“There are many police officers found to have been bribed (by smuggling syndicates) and many of them have also been subjected to disciplinary action”, he said.

“At the same time, they (smugglers) have been stealing the nation’s revenues in the form of duties and taxes”.

Some are calling on the government to reconsider the formation of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission.

The police force has reportedly pushed back against the formation for years because its investigations would involve the intervention of outsiders.

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