INSPECTOR-GENERAL of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said the police have sent a letter inviting the EAIC to  investigate the claims of serious police misconduct brought to light by Sani’s predecessor Abdul Hamid Bador Bador just before he retired. 

So the police, in this case, do not want to investigate the police. Well, that’s good. 

But what’s not is that it is not for the police to decide who should investigate the police! This is because the police is an interested party. You don’t let an interested party decide who should investigate it, like you don’t allow parties in a court case to decide the judge that should hear their case!

Further, what is EAIC’ track records as an investigative body? Has an independent party or researcher  evaluated of its investigations since it was set up? For one thing, does it have very senior, very experienced, very brave, very inquisitive officers to investigate hardened civil servants who through years of practice know all the tricks of the trade (of misbehaviour and corrupt practices) to hide their tracks?   

The allegations made by the previous IGP just before he retired are very serious. They are against his own police officers and even against the home affairs minister.  

If the government is concerned about the expose of Hamid, and sincere in wanting to clean up the police force, then it must take the bull by the horns and appoint a royal commission of inquiry. 

Alternatively, Hamid should be charged in court for making “seditious statements”, defaming the police or charges of the sort so that he will be compelled to reveal any information he might have held back.
The police can then answer him. This way the public will get to know what he meant by “police cartel” or how corruption in the force went from the bottom to the very top because those at the top “wanted it”. 

My opinion is that the EAIC is not competent to investigate a case of such magnitude and importance involving people who know all the tricks of the trade. A Royal Commission should be appointed and the Minister of Home Affairs who was implicated by Hamid as interfering with police administration should not be involved in any decision making on the appointment of a Royal Commission.  

The government must have the political will not to keep on bowing to police objections to the setting up of the IPCMC that was recommended by the Royal Police Commission 15 years ago. The failure to obey has emboldened the bad apples and brought the force into disrepute . Why is the government unwilling to set up the IPCMC? That reflects a very weak government! – June 2, 2021.

* Ravinder Singh 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.