ALL department, state and district police chiefs have been instructed to increase supervision of rank-and-file personnel after several policemen were caught recently for various offences, including feeding information to the underworld, sources said.

Police are also instructed to work closely with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to weed out the bad hats tarnishing the force’s image.

Sources told the Malaysian Insight that the instruction came from Deputy Inspector-General of Police Noor Rashid Ibrahim, who told his men that the integrity and comradeship among policemen were on the decline after several recent crime cases involving their colleagues.

He has also ordered the federal police’s Integrity and Standards Compliance Department to take stern and quick action against errant officers.

It was learnt that one of the cases that Noor Rashid referred to was the recent disappearance of RM7.9 million belonging to an investor during a raid by the Narcotics Department at his condominium in Jalan U-Thant in Kuala Lumpur.

Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun said yesterday the seven policemen and officers allegedly involved were suspended.

“The DIGP also complained about the lack of integrity among police officers as investigations have revealed that information from the inside was being passed outside,” said a source.

The top brass also questioned how several officers were seemingly living beyond their pay grade.

“There were some officers who owned superbikes and luxury cars. Noor Rashid wanted more supervision on this, too,” said the source.

Known for his no-nonsense approach, Noor Rashid also instructed his senior men to identify the “untouchables” in the force and to report their names directly to the heads of department before they are forwarded to him for further action.

The source added that the police force was also reminded that the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) would be implemented soon, which gives it powers to haul up any errant officer.

The IPCMC is a police oversight body first proposed by a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to improve the police force in 2005, following a spate of deaths in custody.

One of the 125 recommendations by the RCI was for an IPCMC to be set up, which will be independent and able to investigate police misconduct, as well as take necessary action.

The establishment of the IPCMC was also one of the pledges in Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto in the 14th general election. – November 2, 2018.