KUALA LUMPUR: Outgoing Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay has called on the police force to place integrity and professionalism above all else.
He said the police must never compromise on corruption, abuse of power or criminal misconduct, regardless of rank.
Ayob Khan said firm action should be taken against any personnel involved in offences such as extortion, kidnapping or other criminal activities.
"The culture of protecting wrongdoers must not exist in the police force," Ayob Khan said in his final press conference on Sunday (July 26).
"Firmness must begin from the top leadership. If anyone breaks the law, action must be taken regardless of rank," he said.
He expressed disappointment over the dissolution of the police Counter Terrorism Task Force in February 2014, describing the move as a mistake that affected Malaysia's security preparedness.
The former Counter Terrorism Division head recalled his involvement in several major counterterrorism operations dating back to the 1990s.
Among them was the arrest of Wali Khan Amin Shah, an associate linked to suspects involved in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing in New York, before the suspect was extradited to the United States.
He also participated in investigations into individuals linked to the Sept 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, including intelligence-sharing efforts with the United States' Central Intelligence Agency.
Ayob Khan said Malaysia had built valuable expertise in combating international terrorism and stressed the importance of preserving that institutional knowledge.
Touching on politics, Ayob Khan stressed that police officers must remain impartial and enforce the law without fear or favour.
"I am a police officer, not a politician. The law must be enforced equally, regardless of political affiliation," he said.
He cited the arrest of two state assemblymen from the then-ruling coalition under anti-terrorism laws in 2019 as an example of law enforcement being carried out without political interference.
He also thanked members of the media for their support throughout his career, describing the relationship between the police and the press as essential in ensuring accurate and timely dissemination of information to the public.
As he prepares for retirement, Ayob Khan said he hoped the next generation of police officers would continue to uphold integrity, reject corruption and abuse of power, and serve the public with professionalism.
