KUALA LUMPUR, March 15 — Special Branch chief Datuk Abdul Hamid Bador took over from the retiring Tan Sri Noor Rashid Ibrahim as the acting deputy inspector-general of police today.

The ceremony for the handover of duties was held at the Central Police Training Centre (Pulapol) here this morning, witnessed by federal police chief Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun.

Mohamad Fuzi is also due to retire in May.

"I am trying hard to control my emotions,” a teary Noor Rashid said during his departure speech.

"I will miss you but I will go away to spend time with my wife, my family... and I believe you (the force) will succeed,” he added.

Malay Mail previously reported that Abdul Hamid had been tipped to take over as IGP from Mohamad Fuzi when the latter retires in May.

In his sending off speech, the IGP said Abdul Hamid will take over responsibilities as his deputy pending an official decision from Putrajaya by then.

"I would like to congratulate Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador... I am confident that Datuk Seri will carry out his duties with excellence," he said.

Abdul Hamid had been transferred out from Bukit Aman to the Prime Minister’s Department in 2015 at the height of investigations into 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

He caused a stir when he refused to clock in at the Prime Minister’s Department and alleged a cover-up in the investigations.

Hamid, 58, returned to the force in May last year following the 14th general election and took over the Special Branch director role from Datuk Seri Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff.

Prior to that, Abdul Hamid had been with the force for 37 years and served in various key departments.

* Editor's note: An earlier version of this article contained an error which has since been rectified.