TAKIYUDDIN Hassan has given a “perverted” interpretation of the federal constitution on the jurisdiction of the Police Force Commission, DAP’s Lim Kit Siang said.

The veteran politician said Takiyuddin, who is minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law), was wrong to claim that the commission oversaw all matters on the running of the police force and was doing so to support Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin, who has been accused of interference in the police force.

Hamzah, as minister, chairs the commission.

But Lim, citing former Bar president Zainur Zakaria, said Article 140(7) of the constitution on the commission showed that its jurisdiction did not cover transfers of officers without a change in rank.

“Takiyuddin has given a perverted interpretation… in an apparent response to former inspector-general of police Abdul Hamid Bador’s criticism of (Home Minister) Hamzah’s interference in police matters.

“The commission does not have the power to determine who should be a state police chief if it does not involve a promotion or demotion in rank,” Lim said, again citing Zainur.

Zainur, as well as a few former IGPs, have spoken about the claims against Hamzah, made by Hamid prior to his retirement from the force.

In his final press interview last week before retirement, Hamid explicitly named Hamzah as having interfered in his (Hamid’s) decision on transfers, and warned that such practices by politicians would tarnish the police force.

Hamzah’s defence is that he has the right to do so as commission chair – an argument lawyers like Zainur have rejected.

Former IGP Hanif Omar has also corrected Hamzah, saying that the Police Act places affairs of the police force and its operations under the IGP, and not the home minister.

Hamzah has also admitted to being in a secretly taped phone conversation between him and an “important person” discussing police transfers.

In that audio clip, the minister is heard talking about he has placed “our men” and “our boys” in certain positions.

Civil society groups and opposition politicians have called for Hamzah’s sacking or at least suspension and for him to be investigated. – May 4, 2021.