PUTRAJAYA (May 4): The chief sponsor of the women’s wing of Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuanita) lodged a police report at the Dang Wangi police station yesterday requesting an investigation into Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin’s alleged interference in the appointment of senior positions in the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).
Datin Paduka Che Asmah Ibrahim, the chief sponsor of Pejuanita, announced this in a press statement released today, relaying their increased concern that such acts will undermine the structural governance of national security, which PDRM is responsible for.
“It will endanger the overall safety of Malaysians, especially women, who are now highly vulnerable to various crimes which have become an increasingly serious problem day by day,” said Che Asmah.
In the press statement, she referred to former inspector-general of police (IGP) Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador’s statement at a press conference on April 30 that accused Hamzah of intervening in the appointment of senior positions in PDRM and administration of the Police Force Commission (PFC).
The former IGP said the minister should only be involved in policy matters and not directly interfere in the appointment of senior police officers.
Abdul Hamid admitted that there was bad blood between him and Hamzah, and complained that the PFC, which was required to sit every four months to discuss issues concerning the force, only met four times a year.
Che Asmah also referred to an audio clip uploaded by Belacan Kini on Facebook on April 25 where an individual who sounded like Hamzah clearly stated to suggest the appointment of his individual of choice for his own benefit.
Hamzah had reportedly admitted that it was his voice in the viral audio clip, which was heavily spread on social media last week.
The minister admitted that he discussed matters relating to police transfers, but insisted that he did nothing wrong.
The chief sponsor of Pejuanita said she was concerned about elements of abuse of power, corruption and interference of political influence involving personal interests of individuals in the Perikatan Nasional (PN)-Barisan Nasional (BN) government today.
“In the interest of all Malaysians, and women in particular, I make this report as a request that the contents of the above statement are fully investigated, and action should be taken in the interest of the safety of Malaysians — women and children in particular.
“I request that the police are able to carry out the investigation with fairness and trust towards any party, including Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin himself even with him being the home minister.
“I believe the investigation is likely to clearly point to an abuse of power and political interference in the appointment of the country’s chief of police,” she said.
Previously, Amanah lawmaker Mohamed Hanipa Maidin suggested that Hamzah and newly-appointed IGP Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani temporarily vacate their positions until an investigation is completed.
Veteran DAP lawmaker Lim Kit Siang also made a similar suggestion and urged to open a probe into Hamzah and further police corruption, suggesting that Acryl should instruct the police to open the investigation “if he is not to assume the IGP office … with the greatest trust deficit”.
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