IGP’s trip to Istanbul nothing more than a holiday, say senior cops

Alfian Z.M. Tahir Kalidevi Mogan Kumarappa Alfian Z.M. Tahir, Kalidevi Mogan Kumarappa Updated 7 years ago · Published on 14 Feb 2019 11:05AM · 8 Comments

Disgruntled senior police officers say Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun's trip to Istanbul along with other Bukit Aman elites was nothing more than a vacation instead of an anti-online gambling learning trip as claimed. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, February 14, 2019.

SENIOR police officers poured scorn on Muhyiddin Yassin’s defence of the trip to Turkey by a huge police delegation, saying it was nothing more than a holiday for Bukit Aman’s elite and their wives.

Muhyiddin, who is home minister, said he gave approval to the Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun to go on the trip as he believed it was to tackle online gambling.

But what Muhyiddin allegedly did not know was that Fuzi had taken with him at least 16 senior police officers, with some of them even bringing their wives along.

“I gave the approval, and the trip was to tackle online gambling. But I was not informed of how many personnel went to Turkey, or if they had flown on business-class tickets,” the home minister had said.

Senior police officers from the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman, who were not part of the delegation to Turkey, criticised Fuzi and his men, saying it was totally irresponsible of them to go on a holiday when there were lots of things to do here.

“Granted that the trip was sponsored. But to go off like that in a huge delegation when there are lots of things to do here, is not right,” said an officer who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“And if it was a trip to learn about methods to combat online gambling, why take their wives along?”

The officer questioned if Fuzi had hoodwinked Muhyiddin into believing that the trip was to learn about online gambling when it clearly showed they were there on a holiday.

Photographs of the group having fun in Istanbul were earlier uploaded onto Facebook. They were, however, pulled down after whistleblower site Sarawak Report questioned if taxpayers’ money was used to fund the trip.

Sarawak Report said the delegation comprised 17 high-ranking police officers, some of whom were accompanied by their wives. It said Fuzi and his men stayed at the four-star Hotel Sura Hagia Sophia in Sultanahmet.

The portal added that the trip would have easily cost RM254,218 for flights and RM58,225 for rooms, before taking meals and expenses into account.

Muhyiddin had said that the trip was sponsored by the Malaysian Totalisator Board, which was formed under the Racing (Totalisator Board) Act, responsible for controlling and coordinating betting on horse racing.

The board is an agency parked under the Finance Ministry.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng waded into the controversy and said his ministry did not spend a single sen on the trip, adding that the funds came from number-forecasting company Da Ma Cai, and was approved by the Malaysian Totalisator Board.

“I know nothing about the trip, and I did not approve it (funds). It was approved by the Totalisator Board. We (Finance Ministry) did not give a single sen to the company or Totalisator Board,” Lim said.

The Malaysian Insight has contacted Da Ma Cai for comment and is awaiting their response.

Fuzi and his delegation returned to Malaysia early yesterday. The IGP, who is set to retire in May, has yet to comment on the trip. – February 14, 2019.

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Comments

  • Bersatu people have yet to rid themselves of their UMNO thinking.

    Posted 7 years ago by Joe Blog · Reply

  • Muhyiddin integrity is questionable. Lots of explanation. Another incompetent fools in Bersatu. Mahatir should seriously look at his cabinets and start the reshuffling or termination of dead wood. A lot is at stakes for PH to survive the next GE . Semenyih will tell the true story and where PH especially Bersatu lies. The Economic Minister, Wilayah Minister, Domestic Affairs and Economy Minister, Land and Rural Minister, Education Minister, Youth and Sport Minister, Primary Industries Minister, Woman and Social Welfare Minister and a few more to mention are really wanting in their work efforts. Only to date do we see two Ministries are performing that is Finance and Work Ministers not because they are DAP or Chinese but truly on their in build work attitude and ethiques. Bring in professionals and appoint them as Ministers in critical Ministries on a contract basis to do the work. It is useless to reward party members who are unable to perform. Much better if the rakyat are allowed to assess and gauge the perfomance to retain performers. how long more do we have to endure stupidity and incompetence????????????????

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Crooks all

    Posted 7 years ago by Watchdog Watchdog · Reply

  • These are the characteristics of people who claim to be the sons of the soil and then gain power for too long. Quite natural.

    Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

    • ...naturally, the claim to deserve this and deserve that.

      Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • It is corruption / bribery and ethically unacceptable when you receive gifts from people you regulate / monitor.

    Posted 7 years ago by Hisham Mokhtar · Reply

  • It is corruption / bribery and ethically unacceptable when you receive gifts from people you regulate / monitor.

    Posted 7 years ago by Hisham Mokhtar · Reply

  • It is corruption / bribery and ethically unacceptable when you receive gifts from people you regulate / monitor.

    Posted 7 years ago by Hisham Mokhtar · Reply