FIVE opposition lawmakers lodged a police report today over the alleged interference of Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin in police affairs.

The Pakatan Harapan MPs who filed separate reports were Fahmi Fadzil (Lembah Pantai), Teresa Kok (Seputeh), Maria Chin Abdullah (Petaling), Tan Yee Kew (Wangsa Maju) and Hatta Ramli (Lumut).

Fahmi told The Malaysian Insight they decided to file reports after watching former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Abdul Hamid Bador’s final press conference last week where he made several allegations concerning Hamzah’s meddling in the police force.

“The press conference contained several serious allegations, including abuse of power or interference in the police force.

“There was also the allegation of an unnamed individual who took a private jet to Sabah, after which there were people who left certain political parties.

“This is the first time we are seeing an open allegation made by the IGP against the minister of home affairs.

“This warrants a serious investigation by the police,” Fahmi told TMI.

Hamid told the press last Friday that Hamzah had meddled in police affairs causing a split in the force.

Hamid had warned that the country was on a slippery slope if politicians were allowed to meddle in the police force and dictate terms.

“A minister cannot interfere in the affairs of the police force. The minister is only empowered to set policies.

“Don’t get upset (when I say that) the home minister has too much power. Come on,” he told editors in a conference at federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman.

Fahmi also said he lodged a separate report against Hamzah, based on Hamid’s interview with Malaysia Gazette, that the home minister had used the Special Branch to serve his political purpose. 

“I have made a separate police report against Hamzah. This one is just by me alone. 

“It is an extremely serious allegation. A damning allegation,” Fahmi said. 

In the interview with the Malaysia Gazette, Hamid said  Hamzah wished to make “his boy” the Special Branch head to serve his political purposes. 

He said Hamzah allegedly wanted “his boy” to head the police’s intelligence unit, which the minister claimed was reluctant to take orders from him.

Hamzah last week admitted to being one of the two voices in a secretly taped phone conversation with an “important person”, discussing the appointment of police officers to key positions in the force. 

Hamid, who was the deputy Special Branch chief during the Barisan Nasional administration, also said in the interview that Hamzah had allegedly directed the Special Branch to conduct a number of operations for his own purposes. 

When contacted for a response, Hamzah’s press secretary told The Malaysia Insight the minister was in a meeting and would issue a statement soon. – May 4, 2021.