Outgoing IGP explains why he didn't speak out sooner

PETALING JAYA: The outgoing Inspector-General of Police says he could only speak out against political interference in police appointments now because he had his hands full fixing other problems.

Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador (pic) claimed that the meddling became more intense as it came closer to the end of his tenure as IGP.

"All placement plans were scuttled by the delay (because) of the police commission meeting.

"It was done on purpose to allow me to leave first," he said on Saturday (May 1).

In a no-holds-barred press conference on Friday (April 30), which was his last as the IGP, Abdul Hamid said the Police Force Commission (SPP) should not be chaired by a minister to prevent political interference.

He said a minister should not interfere in the management of the police force.

"A minister should focus on matters involving policies, not deciding who will be CPO (state police chiefs) or (Bukit Aman) directors.

"I propose for former chief justices or former judges to helm the SPP instead of a minister," he said on Friday before.

He is scheduled to retire on May 3, and Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani has been named as his successor.

Abdul Hamid lamented the alleged interference of Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin in the SPP.

"Since the beginning, he insisted on making the decision on who would get appointed.

"It is hard for me as a leader to operate and arrange the deployment of personnel and officers with such intervention.

"I discussed the matter with the minister, the Prime Minister and the Chief Secretary to the Government.

"It is not good for the country if a minister still insists on having such power," he was quoted as saying.

He also said that the proposal to have a non-politician as the SPP chairman was made previously but to no avail.