THE former inspector-general of police has only himself to blame for not initiating a thorough investigation into his allegations of the alleged cabal within the police force when he was at the helm.

Abdul Hamid Bador should have lodged a police report for such serious allegations and ensured a comprehensive independent investigative task force was set up with no interference by him.

One cannot expect others from within the system to take it upon themselves to lodge such a report when the claim is made by the top cop himself.

Investigations should all have been done discreetly at the material time, both covertly and overtly in gathering admissible evidence long before making the allegations public. It should have been complemented with all the investigative permutations laid out by experienced investigators.

He had the power and tools available at his fingertips to come up with the required admissible evidence, especially by combining the expertise, experience and focus of both the Criminal Investigations Department and the Special Branch.

Relevant witnesses could have been identified to cooperate with investigations both by accumulating oral and documentary evidence. A proper and thorough investigative team would have helped in either identifying the perpetrators with the necessary admissible evidence or on the other  hand, dispelling these serious allegations.

The police force is no stranger to handling such pressure and high-profile investigations, especially when they have had the experience of investigating their own IGP in the past. He was prosecuted and convicted.

Abdul Hamid’s statements now, in calling the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission’s (EAIC) investigations as shallow, has come a little too late notwithstanding the fact that it is hurting the image of the men in blue.

The outcome of the EAIC investigations leaves much to be desired as it does not really have the experience, logistics and manpower to take on the alleged, experienced and possibly dangerous rogue personnel in the police service.

The inability to come to a decisive conclusion was expected and Abdul Hamid must now focus on ensuring that there is no further deterioration of trust and confidence in the police force.

The police really do not deserve this situation, especially when fighting crime and keeping the peace is paramount to the stability of the country, and most personnel carry out their duties diligently, and in tandem with the rule of law.

I do believe there was substance in the allegations made by Abdul Hamid and that he should have anchored his allegations soundly by way of firm procedure in law in his efforts to weed out these alleged wolves in sheep clothing within the service, but he missed the opportunity to do so.

For the moment, we have to move on. – February 27, 2022.

* G. Selva reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.