JOHOR BARU: The two policemen who were photographed "flirting" with a woman, believed to be a prostitute while on patrol duty on Sunday, could be fired from the force.
State police chief Datuk Mohd Khalil Kader Mohd said the police force does not tolerate such illicit behavior among its personnel.
He said the duo, a corporal and a lance corporal from the Segamat patrol unit, could face possible sacking from the force.
For now, he said both men have been transferred to desk duties at the Segamat district police headquarters pending a disciplinary probe.
"They have been taken off patrol duties. A disciplinary probe will be taken against them.
"They will face a possibility of being slapped with severe punishment, and they could even be sacked from the force," he told the New Straits Times.
Initial investigation showed the photograph was likely to have been taken when the two policemen were patrolling a row of shoplots in Bandar Utama, Segamat about 10pm on Oct 8.
It also showed one of them holding the hand of a woman, who was dressed in 'hot pants' and a black singlet.
The latest incident came as a double blow to the Johor police as the state police had just ordered a disciplinary probe against seven other policemen for improper conduct yesterday.
That first case followed the emergence of a nine-seconds video clip showing the seven policemen in an entertainment outlet in Muar, where it was claimed that they were associated with an alleged illegal gaming "taukeh".
The policemen, including a police station chief holding the rank of inspector, have been transferred to the state police headquarters pending a disciplinary probe.
Khalil said the two cases have painted a negative picture on the force. He said those were shameful acts that should not have occurred.
"They have crossed the line as the policemen have pledged to carry out their duties while abiding by a code of conduct.
"They are trained to uphold what is right, but their negative behaviour was reflected in what had happened. They need to face the music," Khalil said.
"I am a person who cares for my men and women in the force. But I must be stern whenever they are found to have breached the code of conduct or when they acted beyond their limits.
"Such a shameful act is not condoned, and cannot be tolerated. Policemen must maintain their integrity and protect the good name of the force," he said.
Khalil said the case should serve as a lesson to all policemen to observe decorum and practice integrity when serving in the force.