New IGP: Tackling terrorism always a priority

(From left) Khalid, Zahid and Mohamad Fuzi at the handing over of duties ceremony.

KUALA LUMPUR: Tackling the threat of terrorism will be a priority for the new Inspector-General of Police.

Datuk Seri Mohamad Fuzi Harun,58, who was previously the Special Branch Director and Counter Terrorism Task Force chief, said combating the threat of terrorism would always be in the scope of the Royal Malaysian Police leadership.

"The Counter Terrorism Division will be boosted with additional personnel.

"Our priority is to curb the threat of terrorism – foreign or domestic," he said in his first press conference as the new IGP on Monday.

Mohamad Fuzi also thanked the Government for his appointment and vowed to continue the good work of his predecessor Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar as well as other former IGPs.

"It is truly an honour and I will carry out this responsibility diligently.

"I will give my best to serve the people. The safety and security of the people is a priority," he added.

Mohamad Fuzi takes over from Khalid, who has retired on Monday.

The handing-over ceremony was witnessed by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The appointment of the Special Branch Department director, ahead of Deputy IGP Tan Sri Noor Rashid Ibrahim, took many by surprise.

Before he was Special Branch director, Mohamad Fuzi had previously held the Bukit Aman Management director and Acting Deputy IGP posts.

Dr Ahmad Zahid also announced the appointment of Datuk Seri Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff as the new Special Branch director, while Noor Rashid remains as the Deputy IGP.