Current IGP’s contract expires in May
DATUK Seri Abdul Hamid Bador is touted to be one of the candidates in the running to become the new inspector-general of police.
Sources claim that the federal police Special Branch director, a 40-year veteran of the force, is among the frontrunners to replace current IGP Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun, whose contract expires in May.
When he was Special Branch deputy director, Hamid was transferred out from Bukit Aman to the Prime Minister’s Department in 2015, at the height of the investigations into the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal, in the past administration. His removal from Bukit Aman came about the same time when then attorney-general Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail was ejected.
The New Straits Times had reported that while Hamid’s transfer was never formally explained, it was believed to be over his vocal criticism of the previous government’s handling of the 1MDB issue.
Hamid, 58, returned to the force in May last year following the 14th General Election.
He assumed the Special Branch director role from Datuk Seri Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff.
Other names being bandied about as candidates for the top cop post include federal police Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, and Integrity and Standards Compliance Department director Datuk Zamri Yahya.
National Anti-Drugs Agency director-general Datuk Seri Zulkifli Abdullah is also believed to be among the candidates.
Acryl Sani, 58, another veteran of the force, was the Strategic Resources and Technology Department director, Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department director, Commercial Crime Investigation Department director, Perak police chief and Sarawak police commissioner before being appointed to his current position.
Zamri, meanwhile, was the Special Branch deputy director, Kedah police chief and had held several positions in the force prior to his current posting.
Yesterday, Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said he would be submitting the
names of candidates for IGP and deputy IGP to the prime minister soon.