Is anybody listening to Ayob Khan? By Commander S THAYAPARAN (Retired) Royal Malaysian Navy

Malaysiakini : “Ayob, who previously led Bukit Aman’s counter-terrorism division, also claimed that some police officers had tried to persuade him to close one eye on wrongdoings just before he took over the post of Johor police chief in 2020.”

– As reported in the press

COMMENT | Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay’s recent presser was a real barn burner, not that anyone especially from the political class was paying much attention.

In it, the deputy IGP claimed amongst other things, that forces were attempting to replace him, and that he was told during his tenure in Johor by other police officers to turn a blind eye to wrongdoings. 

He also claimed that other top police officers were in the crosshairs of forces wanting to replace them with “their people” and of course, he reminded the big cheeses within the police that “good cultures” among the men in blue begin with them practising integrity.

In any other democratic country, the words of the deputy IGP would invite a torrent of journalistic investigations and political enquiries. However, this seems to have gone unnoticed because nothing goes on within the Royal Malaysian Police that is not sanctioned even if it is a fait accompli by the political class.

I do not make this statement flippantly although anyone who has served in the state security apparatus would understand this.

All we have to do when it comes to the police is refer to a letter published by an anonymous police officer in 2012 discussing how the police massaged crime statistics.

The officer wrote: “The police came up with an ingenious way of achieving the target. The principle behind the plan is, well, if this is what the political masters want, then we shall give it to them.”

You can read a rebuttal of the letter from the police here.

This letter came out in 2012 when we witnessed the power plays between two former high-ranking police officers which no doubt crosses from the bureaucratic to criminal if the allegations and counter-allegations are to be believed.

It also highlights the shadowy nexus between organised crime and law enforcement with added racial overtones, which is naturally par for the course in this country.

In this power play between two high-ranking former police officers, do you really think that political operatives in the establishment were in the dark?

Keep in mind that the then home minister Hishammuddin Hussein said: "Prove it, prove it. If they prove it, we can take action."

Unfortunately for him, there was proof under his nose, as detailed in this news report.

Earlier this year comments by Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department chief Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain of the nexus between the police and organised crime indicates how dysfunctional our state security apparatus is.

Bukit Aman CID chief Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain

Read it all here.....