INSPECTOR-GENERAL of Police Abdul Hamid Bador brushed off suggestions that a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) was needed to probe allegations that junior police officers linked to criminal gangs were out to oust him from the force.

Hamid reiterated that things are under control.

“I have said it already, it is under my control. I shared this because I wanted the public to know the issues in the police force,” he told reporters in Bukit Aman today.

“Also for my men to realise this is something bad and those with bad intentions need to stop.”

Civil society group, Eliminating Deaths and Abuse In Custody Together (EDICT), said Putrajaya should form a RCI to investigate Hamid’s claim of an internal conspiracy to oust him.

“Hamid sounded as though he was pleading with the government to take action.

“Edict believes that this police cabal already has tentacles in every police department so it makes sense to have an independent body like a RCI investigate and identify those involved,” said EDICT.

The IGP caused a stir on Wednesday when in an interview with Malay daily Sinar Harian, he said there were junior police officers linked to criminal gangs who were out to tarnish his image and oust him from the force.

Hamid also said his disclosure was not to fish for a contract extension. His contract expires in May.

“I’m not such a person. It (disclosure) was done so that we will not repeat our mistakes.”

He similarly said yesterday it was not his intention to scare the public about the attempt to oust him, but merely to inform them of what was happening in the police force.

Earlier today, DAP lawmaker Gobind Singh Deo urged Hamid to lodge a police report on alleged attempts to bring him down.

The Puchong MP said Hamid’s allegations call for open and transparent investigations.

“These are serious allegations which impact on the integrity of the police force,” said Gobind. – March 23, 2021.