An officer and an actor

Lights, camera, action: SAC Datuk Shaharon Anuar Abdul Latif with actress Erra Fazira on the ‘Gerak Khas’ set. – Photos: Agencies

“SEMUA yang bermula mesti ada pengakhirnya” (All things must come to an end eventually).

That was only a dialogue in his last appearance in a Gerak Khas episode, but come Aug 1, the fictional words will turn into reality as Senior Asst Comm Datuk Shaharon Anuar Abdul Latif calls time on his police career that spanned almost 38 years.

He sits down with Sunday Star to reminisce about his career in the police force and the entertainment industry, as well as his plans for the future.

Life on screen

Looking back on his career, SAC Shaharon Anuar says while he did not have a chance to combat the communists, he is happy with his involvement in local cop drama series Gerak Khas as it has helped to elevate the image of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).

His involvement in Gerak Khas began in 1998 when the director of the series, Datuk Yusuf Haslam, invited him to be its technical advisor.

“At that time, Datuk Yusof intended to produce a drama ala Hawaii Five-0, where the police are in plain clothing.

“As a technical advisor on the drama, I told him that there is a need for a balance between those in uniform (police officers) and those that are not (detectives),” he says.

SAC Shaharon says he is proud that Gerak Khas, which began airing in 1999 with high ratings, achieved the distinction of being the longest television series in Malaysia Book of Records.

“Many young officers and personnel told me they were inspired to join the police force after watching Gerak Khas.”

Aside from the portrayal of police work on television, Gerak Khas also presented messages in its episodes.

“Good will overcome evil and nobody is above the law are among the messages that we tried to convey to the audience through the series,” he shares.

His first foray into acting began as a main character in the commercial Toyota Land Cruiser: Jungle out there in 1989.

“I then acted as a detective in the film Pemburu Bayang, produced by Skop Production Sdn Bhd in 1992,” he adds.

That was when he first worked with Yusuf Haslam.

SAC Shaharon Anuar feels that the combo of Yusof Haslam and him worked well in portraying each production concept of a police series.

SAC Shaharon Anuar feels that the combo of Yusof Haslam and him worked well in portraying each production concept of a police series.

“Before Gerak Khas, there were other series including Detik Metropolitan, Roda-Roda Kotaraya and Roda-Roda Kuala Lumpur,” he says.

SAC Shaharon Anuar says the production will arrange shooting schedules of scenes involving him.

“My involvement in the Gerak Khas series is not that big. For example, in an episode, I am in maybe two or three scenes.

“The production will arrange 15 to 20 scenes for a day of shooting. Shooting is done during weekends starting from 9am and ending at midnight or 2am.”

Playing a police officer is definitely not a burden, SAC Shaharon Anuar says.

“I take it as another duty but on set, I have to be accustomed to being in front of a camera.

“I am also grateful that PDRM granted permission for me to act.

“The conditions for the approval is I can only act outside of my working hours (as a police officer) and it does not tarnish for police force’s image.

“Thus, I act after office hours, during the weekends or public holidays,” he adds.

On set, he is not only an actor but also a technical advisor for the production.

“I have to read all scripts and monitor the story line to ensure that everything is in order.

“It is different to other actors and actresses who only focused on their respective characters and roles,” he says.

Throughout his involvement, SAC Shaharon Anuar says he gets along well with the whole production crew and cast of Gerak Khas.

“Actors such as Datuk AC Mizal, A. Galak, Farid Amirul, Deen Maidin as well as actresses Erra Fazira and Abby Abadi gave good cooperation and commitment in making the drama a success,” he says.

One of his fondest moments was when Gerak Khas The Movie was produced in 2001 following the huge success of the series, SAC Shaharon Anuar says.

“I went for the premier screenings in several states and the response from the audience was fantastic.

“Despite only my being a supporting actor, fans were clamouring for my attention during the premiers,” he says.

Besides acting, SAC Shaharon Anuar says he was a DJ and a producer of the Polis dan Anda programme, which aired at RTM’s Radio Satu 98.4 MHz from 1992 until 2003.

“The programme was on from 3pm till 4pm every Saturday.

“It won the Juara Anugerah Sri Angkasa for the best Radio Magazine/Documentary in 1997, 1999 and 2001,” he says.

SAUK stand-off

Many did not know that SAC Shaharon Anuar also played an important part as the negotiation team in Ops Subuh, which was the operation against the Al-Maunah group in Sauk, Kuala Kangsar in 2000.

The group had broken into and stolen a cache of firearms from two army camps in Gerik, Perak before hiding out at Bukit Jenalik, Sauk.

SAC Shaharon Anuar says he was surprised when the Inspector-General of Police instructed to him to be the mediator in negotiation with the group.

“I did not have anything to refer to as such a crisis has not occurred previously.

“However, I calmed myself and prayed that God grant me the strength to overcome the situation,” he says.

At 5pm on July 5, 2000, SAC Shaharon Anuar says he met with two women and three children, who were the wives and children of the Al-Maunah group members at a house in Kuala Kangsar.

“They were then brought to SK Bukit Jenalik later that night, around 2am (July 6, 2000),” he says.

SAC Shaharon Anuar, who was a Asst Supt at that time, then joined up with the rest of the negotiation team led by SAC (II) Abdul Hadi Mahmud.

“Using a loud hailer, the team attempted to persuade the group members to come down throughout the wee hours of the night.

“At 6.30am, two Al-Maunah group members surrendered. More members followed by 12pm.

“By 4.05pm, all 28 of them including their leader had surrendered and Ops Subuh was concluded,” he says.

He says he was also entrusted with recording and arranging the complete chronology of the incident during the operation.

“The chronology will enable investigators and prosecutors to understand the case scenario to ensure that all criminals are properly charged.

“All the group members were eventually charged under Section 122 of the Penal Code and other sections too,” he says.

SAC Shaharon says he was also assigned as the production director during Ops Subuh, in charge of arranging the tasks of police photographers and videographers at the place of incident.

“It was a big challenge as we run the risk of being shot during the stand-off.

“I also got materials from local media in making the video of Ops Subuh as reference for prosecutors and the police in the future,” he says.

In the line of duty

SAC Datuk Shaharon Anuar Abdul Latif began his career in the police force on Nov 4, 1984, when he went for the six-month training at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) at Jalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur.

“I was born in Taiping on Aug 1, 1962. After high school, I initially wanted to further my studies but I decided against it as I wanted to help my father.

“I am the eldest of four siblings, so I worked various jobs, including as a contract labour and a security guard to make ends meet.

“However, when there was an offer to join the police force, I jumped at the chance and the rest, as they say, is history,” he says.SAC Shaharon Anuar, who has served in the PDRM for almost 38 years, have worked in several states, holding various posts.

“I received the “Anugerah Perkhidmatan Cemerlang (Excellent Service Award) three times in 1993, 2001 and 2008 as well as 46 letters of appreciation,” he says.

Reflecting on his impending retirement on Aug 1, SAC Shaharon Anuar says he has no regrets at all in his career.

“I always gave my best in everything that I do so I would not change anything if I had the chance.

“I am honoured to have been part of the police force,” he says.

He also reminded young officers and personnel to always serve with distinction and integrity.

“After retirement, I will be involved with various NGOs.

“I might also continue acting,” he quips.