MALACCA: He almost got his finger bitten off in the line of duty, and all for RM10.

During his days as an Anti-Corruption Agency investigating officer, Masjid Tanah MP Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop was in charge of investigating graft cases and trapping offenders.

In 1969, Abu Seman, then an investigating officer, and his colleague had cornered a game ranger who accepted money from them in exchange for permission to hunt without a licence.

Dangling a RM20 bait, which in those days could buy two weeks' worth of groceries, Abu Seman waited for the ranger to take the bait -- which he did.

But just as he moved in to make an arrest, the ranger realised his mistake and in a last-ditch attempt to destroy the evidence, he tried to swallow one of the two RM10 notes.
Not about to fail in his quest for justice, Abu Seman did the only thing possible -- he stuck his finger into the offender's mouth.

But the ranger clamped down hard with his teeth, drawing blood. He refused to open his mouth despite being hit by Abu Seman's colleague.

Eventually, the man released the finger, which by then was a mass of torn skin and blood.

The ranger was then taken to the ACA office where he was given a laxative so that the evidence could be retrieved the next morning.

While all that is left from his experience in law enforcement are hair-raising memories and a scar on his middle-finger, the now deputy defence minister believes in always looking ahead with goals firmly in mind.

The 64-year-old was born and raised in the sleepy village of Masjid Tanah as the youngest of four children.

Although he had a self-proclaimed mischievous streak during his childhood, Abu Seman never forgot the importance of discipline.

The ingrained discipline eventually led him to achieve his dream of becoming an inspector in the police force in 1964.

"My two years' training at the Royal Malaysia Police Training Centre was sheer torture. But looking back, I realise it had helped to build my character and set me on my career path."

After being posted to various states as an inspector, Abu Seman was seconded to the ACA in 1968 before being absorbed into the National Investigation Bureau.

However, his hunger for education and self-improvement never left him, with the up-and-coming investigating officer then setting his sights on becoming a barrister-at-law.

Abu Seman eventually graduated from Middle Temple, London, in 1977.

He then began his new career as a prosecuting officer before becoming a deputy public prosecutor in 1978.

He entered the political arena in 1978, winning his first parliamentary seat in 1995 as MP for Alor Gajah.

As an advocate of the value of education, Abu Seman works to ensure there is one graduate and at least one professional in each home.

Towards this end, he has helped to set up various higher learning institutions, including the Paya Rumput Masjid Tanah Community College.

Now dividing his time between family and work commitments in Kuala Lumpur and his duty as a member of parliament, he travels back to his village every weekend to meet his constituents.

"I consider the welfare of my constituents of utmost importance."