GEORGE TOWN: When police constable Muhammad Norzulkhairee Md Akhir, 27, stopped a car in Tanjung Bungah here, he saw four men suspected to be illegal immigrants inside.
The driver of the car offered him a bribe of RM1,000 – more than half his monthly salary.
Muhammad Norzulkhairee was not one to be tempted. He arrested the man.
Yesterday, he was lauded for his integrity and rewarded with a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) appreciation certificate, which was handed to him by Penang police chief Comm Datuk Chuah Ghee Lye during the police monthly gathering.
Recalling the incident, Muhammad Norzulkhairee said he stopped the car on Oct 8, 2015, after spotting the four men inside.
“The driver, a local, got out of the car and took out a stack of money amounting RM1,000 to ‘settle’ the case.
“Instead of accepting the bribe, I handcuffed him and took him to the Tanjong Tokong police station where I worked,” he told reporters after the gathering at the state police headquarters in Penang Road yesterday.
Muhammad Norzulkhairee, from Sungai Petani, Kedah, urged his colleagues not to accept bribes.
In his speech earlier, Comm Chuah said the Integrity and Standards Compliance Department had opened eight investigation papers on corruption cases, involving more than 20 policemen, including an Asst Supt and other rank and file personnel since last year.
“Twelve of them were charged in court.
“Five were suspended from work and seven others are in the process of being suspended.
“Three were earlier sacked after being convicted.
“We will not compromise on issues related to corruption,” he said.
Other than Muhammad Norzulkhairee, an MACC certificate was also awarded to Kpl Mohd Hafizul Rizuan from the South Seberang Prai police headquarters.
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