KOTA KINABALU: The Council of Datuks Sabah has weighed in on the controversy concerning the alleged placement of errant or problematic cops in the state, saying any such practice must stop.
Its president Datuk Claudius Roman said the police force must first uphold its oath of “Police and Community, will not separate” with integrity at all times.“It’s time to stop this unfair and unacceptable practice. To allow such transfers is tantamount to first covering up the crimes of the government officers or staff members and then falsely projecting a clean administration,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Roman said such officers should face the music for their actions so that a strong message of deterrence will be projected, in order to restore the trust and respect of the community in the police force.He said under the Federal Constitution, Sabah and Sarawak were equal partners with the other 11 states, and should always be treated equally and respectfully.
He also said respect must be accorded to Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and the state government before any decision concerning Sabah is made.
Roman said there should not be double standards when it came to the treatment of errant public officers, adding that it was better to suspend them instead.
The controversy arose after Selangor deputy police chief Deputy Comm Datuk S. Sasikala Devi was reported to have said that nine police officers were transferred to several police stations and divisions in Sabah and Sarawak.
She said they had been placed in the states as investigations continued on their alleged involvement in an extortion case linked to a businessman in Gombak.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani later clarified that the transfers had yet to take place.
He said he had instructed the police’s Management Department to carry out a review of the matter, adding that he was aware of the unhappiness over the issue.
