On the Beat | By Wong Chun Wai

Shattered peace on the hill

 

Peaceful surroundings: The goings-on at Bukit Aman can only be described as unprecedented and a scary development.

On Tuesday, Ramli came out in the open and admitted that he was the so-called RM27mil cop that the media had kept referring to in their reports on the probe. 

Clearly angry and even bitter, Ramli, 55, who is set to retire in March, blasted the ACA, the Attorney-General and the police for the manner in which they had carried out their investigations. 

Ramli knows the law well. He has a law degree from the International Islamic University and a Masters law degree from the University of London. He is also married to a Sessions Court judge. 

Ironically, Ramli who rose from the ranks of a constable, was at one time the boss of the current Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan. But they are now engaged in an open feud. 

Sitting with a group of senior officers, Ramli said he had nothing to hide and that his sources of income – buying and selling properties including shares – were all declared under oath.  

There is more than this dramatic revelation. On Oct 25, Sergeant-Major Hasan Aman, 49, and ASP Hong Keng Hock, 42, were charged at the Malacca Sessions Court with falsifying witness statements. 

Hong and Deputy Supt Baharin Mohd Rose, 52, were charged in Kuala Lumpur, also with using false documents, against businessman Goh Cheng Poh @ Tengku. Two days later, the duo, who are with the CCID, were charged with falsifying a witness statement in Pulai on June 5.  

Again, the charges have been unprecedented and some security and political analysts have even described the developments in the police force as worrisome with talk that there are factions supported by different powerful political personalities. 

Deputy Security Minister Datuk Fu Ah Kiow has dismissed talk there is a “war” between the police and the Internal Security Ministry, in replying to Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang who said from press reports, it sounded as if there was a power play between the ministry and the police. 

Fu’s statement, in downplaying the issue, is understandable, as the stability of the institution needs to be protected. It is the job of the police to maintain the security and peace of the nation.  

After all, the police headquarters is located at Bukit Aman and as the name suggest, the Government and the people have high expectations of the police force, particularly in keeping the country safe. 

But in August, IGP Musa startled the country when he revealed that he had been framed by his own men and warned his colleagues not to abuse their powers. 

It was a loaded remark from the top policeman and on the same day he spoke to the media, two packages containing 12-gauge shotgun cartridges were found addressed to him. The parcels, which also contained a threatening note, were discovered by workers at the Bintulu post office. 

No one is sure whether the so-called efforts to topple him and the parcel were related but one thing is for sure, the IGP's post is a hot seat. And no one can deny thetalk of disunity within the top brass of the force. 

Many policemen have found it hard to deal with Musa – he has cracked the whip, declared war against graft and transferred certain senior officials.  

He has also insisted that all policemen wear the Saya Anti-Rasuah badges on their uniforms. 

Musa has also made it compulsory for all policemen to declare their assets every six months and the lifestyles of his officers have also come under scrutiny.  

If they were to buy or sell property, Musa has ordered them to update their records.  

The sentiment is that Musa has been over-zealous in his task with some openly making known their displeasure of the regular transfers.  

Others said there can never be a quick-fix solution in the police force, where corruption has been long been an issue. It is well known that angry letters have been sent to Musa. 

His actions have hurt him, and he has been subjected to all kinds of allegations on the Internet. But the ACA has cleared him. 

More important, he has the Prime Minister’s backing. Musa has to accept the fact that in any organisation, there will always be resentment, jealousy and envy.  

Still, the power play is somewhat scary, if not macabre, to most Malaysians who have never witnessed such open tension within the police force.  

Maybe it’s Halloween but the can of worms being opened is disturbing, nevertheless.