KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 3,789 investigation papers were opened by the federal police Integrity and Standards Compliance Department (JIPS) in 2023 with 56 per cent of it related to disciplinary investigations, resulting in 139 dismissals last year.
JIPS director Datuk Seri Azri Ahmad said offences related to integrity top the statistics for policemen subjected to disciplinary punishment followed by offences such as drug, crime, syariah and corruption.
He said the total enforcement for supervisory officers to take care of subordinates must continue to be emphasised in gaining public trust.
"This is in line with the (inspector-general of police's) directive issued in August last year where he gave us three months to put the special instruction into effect," he said in an exclusive interview on the New Straits Times' Beyond the Headlines.
"It (cases this year of policemen being involved in crime) clearly shows that we started (the year) on the wrong foot where the public is now under the impression that the police are not doing their job," he added.
Azri said the "bad apples" within the force were not more than 2 per cent as the total number of staff currently comprises 134,739 police personnel and public servants.
However, he said, the police force consistently conducts thorough investigations in accordance with both criminal and disciplinary procedures.
Azri said JIPS's role as a disciplinary action body remains unwavering in its commitment to taking firm action against policemen found to be involved in corruption, malpractice, and abuse of power.
"Swift and decisive punitive action is taken if wrongdoing is proven as a preventive measure to curtail the spread of any detrimental influence that could undermine the integrity of the police force."