KUALA LUMPUR: Former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said he is all for the disbanding of three police's elite teams, as part of an effort to restructure the force.
The teams reported to be disbanded are the Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group (STING), Special Task Force for Anti-Vice, Gaming and Gangsterism (STAGG), and the Special Task Force on Organised Crime (STAFOC).
He said the roles of police’s long standing elite teams, namely, the Special Action Unit (UTK) and the VAT 69 Commando were adequate for crime intervention and prevention operations.
“What I see now is that STING, STAGG and STAFOC are placed under their respective department directors and the IGP does not know what they are doing.
“Hence, I agree that the three teams be disbanded because the IGP needs to know how many operations are being carried out by his men,” he said in an exclusive interview with Bernama here.
“There is no need for elite troops in each unit because we have insufficient number of police personnel,” he said.
Musa said when he was IGP, all the department directors were told to brief him on their actions and thus, he was aware of the number of operations being conducted.
“After all, the IGP needs to know all the operations carried out by the various police departments.
“We only engage both teams (UTK and VAT 69) in dangerous situation such as when the suspect is known to be carrying firearms and such. That’s when we rope in the help of the elite troops.” he said.
On June 26, Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the government would disband several special police teams as part of the force's restructuring exercise. — BERNAMA