KUALA LUMPUR: After 35 years donning the blue uniform, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay will be calling it a day on Sunday.
While there have been offers for him to move to the corporate world, Ayob Khan joked that he might just trade his uniform for one worn by a restaurant worker to flip roti canai in his golden years.
“You might just see me in a pagoda shirt and sarong while flipping roti canai!” he quipped.
“But in all seriousness, there have been offers, but I have not decided yet. I will take a break first,” he said.
The outgoing Deputy IGP had, on several occasions, demonstrated his skills in flipping roti canai.
Ayob Khan said integrity had always been the guiding principle in every position he held, adding that no organisation or leader could succeed without it.
He said he had never compromised when dealing with misconduct regardless of rank or position.
“Without integrity, experience, qualifications, rank and even wealth mean nothing,” he said.
Ayob Khan also said militant and extremist recruitment has changed with the times, with less emphasis on face-to-face radicalisation and a larger focus on online portals, including multiplayer games.
“The threats from these groups will never end,” he said at the launch of his autobiography, Dari Pendang Ke Bukit Aman: Jejak Integriti.
He added that ideologies have also shifted, with less emphasis on religion.
“In some cases, the feeling of deep anger leads to attacks. This was what we found during recent arrests, including cases involving kids only in their teenage years.
“The modus operandi has also changed, which is why the police must remain on the front line to detect such issues.
“If we are passive and reactive, there will be an attack in Malaysia. That is why the Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter-Terrorism division (E8) must not be lax,” he said.
He also said that it is the duty of the Special Branch to detect and stop such elements before any attacks can occur.
Ayob Khan said the autobiography was to highlight the sacrifices and contributions of police officers, particularly those in the Special Branch, whose work often goes unnoticed.
“The public usually sees the police making arrests or conducting investigations, but they do not see the many covert operations carried out behind the scenes to protect the country,” he said.
