Abdul Hamid Bador is nation's No. 2 cop
Commissioner Datuk Abdul Hamid Bador, 58,(right) who was the Special Branch chief, was given the acting duties after taking over from retiring deputy Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tan Sri Noor Rashid Ibrahim (left), who will complete his service this Sunday. (BERNAMA)
By Adrian David - March 15, 2019 @ 3:07pm
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Abdul Hamid Bador, who caused a stir by refusing to clock-in following his transfer to another department four years ago, has been elevated as the nation’s number-two cop.
Commissioner Hamid, 58, who was the Special Branch chief, was given the acting duties after taking over from retiring deputy Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tan Sri Noor Rashid Ibrahim, who will complete his service this Sunday.
IGP Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun witnessed the simple ceremony at the police training centre in Jalan Semarak.
Fuzi, who is due to retire in May, announced that Hamid would serve in an acting capacity, pending an official announcement by the Home Ministry soon.
Media reports had tipped Hamid as heir-apparent, to be slotted as the nation’s top cop later, when there is a reshuffle of the police top brass.
This also follows the retirement of federal Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd today and Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohmad Salleh who will retire in April.
Should Hamid be elevated as IGP, Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani is reported to be a prime candidate to be deputy IGP.
In 2015, Hamid, was hastily transferred out from the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman to the Prime Minister’s Department for being overly critical, at the height of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) investigations.
Hamid, however, courted controversy when he refused to clock-in at Putrajaya, alleging that there was a cover-up in the investigations.
Following Barisan Nasional’s defeat after 61 years in power in the 14th General Election on May 9 last year, Hamid was reinstated and appointed Special Branch director, taking over from Datuk Seri Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff.
Hamid had been slated for a meteoric rise after having served the force for 37 years at that time, after holding various key positions.
In his farewell speech, Noor Rashid said he was leaving the force with a heavy heart.
“I am trying hard to control my emotions.
“I will miss all of you as I am sad to leave my officers who had been with me during my difficult times.
“I am going away to spend more time with my wife and family,” said Noor Rashid, who expressed confidence in Hamid.
Noor Rashid added that he planned to write a book about his experiences with the police force and the struggles they faced, so that the public were aware of it.
After rumours of extension, IGP confirms retiring in May
Published 6 days ago on 13 March 2019
By Thasha Jayamanogaran
Malay Mail
IGP Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun speaks during a press conference after a crime prevention patrol at the Times Square shopping centre in Kuala Lumpur January 24, 2019. ― Picture by Yusof Mat IsaKUALA LUMPUR, March 13 — Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun confirmed today he will retire in early May.
He also declined to speculate on purported plans at the Prime Minister’s Department to extend his tenure by another six months.
“As far as I’m concerned, I didn’t get any note on this (extension).
“So, I can’t comment. What I’m sure is my service will end early May,” he told reporters after attending the handover ceremony of the federal police’s Criminal Investigation Department director and presenting the Pingat Jasa Pahlawan Negara (PJPN) medals to 93 senior officers at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol).
Malay Mail previously reported one name that has been mentioned frequently to take over from Mohamad Fuzi is Special Branch department director Datuk Abdul Hamid Bador.
Abdul Hamid was transferred from Bukit Aman to the Prime Minister’s Department in 2015 at the height of investigations into 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
He caused a stir when he refused to clock in at the Prime Minister’s Department and alleged a cover-up in the investigations.
Hamid, 58, returned to the force in May last year following the 14th general elections and took over the Special Branch director role from Datuk Seri Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff.
Prior to that Abdul Hamid had been with the force for 37 years and served in various key departments.
“He is the obvious choice right now given his vast experience, he is, in fact, the first choice and is expected to take over from Mohamad Fuzi in May.
“It will be very interesting to see the changes and new policies that he will bring to the force,” a source privy to the decision told Malay Mail then.
Another source said Abdul Hamid’s return as the special branch chief following the installation of the new Pakatan Harapan government clearly shows he has the trust of the current leadership.
“When Abdul Hamid took over, he had said that the main role of the Special Branch is to thwart any threats, either internally or externally, that might hinder the initiatives of the new government.
“He clearly knows what is needed to be done with the massive change that the country is going through now.
“He criticised the way 1MDB investigations were handled by the previous administration and openly said that his department had advised the previous government to explain the issue clearly to the people,” the source said.
The source added that Abdul Hamid’s credibility, upright attitude, honour and his experience make him the top choice for the position.
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