KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 — Several Pakatan Harapan (PH) MPs today lodged police reports after former top cop Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador’s exposé, alleging political interference within the agency.

The five MPs who made individual police reports are Lumut MP Datuk Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli, Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Petaling MP Maria Chin Abdullah and Wangsa Maju MP Datin Paduka Tan Yee Kew.

Meanwhile, Fahmi filed a separate complaint on a recent reported allegation by Abdul Hamid that Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin was meddling with Special Branch (SB) for his political mileage.

In an interview published by portal Malaysia Gazette, Abdul Hamid said that the home minister has been meddling with some of the Branch’s operation, but he did not reveal any details.

Fahmi told members of the media here that the PH leadership would also be meeting to pressure the government to form a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to probe Abdul Hamid’s claims about the issues faced by the police force.

"The best place for this, there are two. We will speak to PH leaders as well as the broader Opposition to make a call for an RCI into the serious allegations made by the former chief of police and secondly as mentioned by my colleagues, Parliament actually is the best place. The Cabinet is accountable to the Parliament,” Fahmi said when asked to comment on the conflict of having the police investigate its own personnel.

However, Fahmi said he has full confidence in the police to carry out investigations impartially, adding that Abdul Hamid has already "set some good groundwork” for more reforms to happen.

"So we view this as a matter that is very serious and we cannot treat the laments by the former IGP, in a lackadaisical manner. We urge that Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin immediately state his stand. From what I see, he does not want to talk much but in this issue, the chief of the police force has come out to say something very serious and in the press conference, Tan Sri Abdul Hamid stated that he had brought the matter up to the prime minister.

"Therefore we request that the prime minister give an explanation. Is it true that Tan Sri Abdul Hamid had met him regarding this matter, and what actions would he take towards the  individuals meant by the former IGP. If there is no statement or action then to us, this is an injustice  to the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM). With every passing day, we see that the effort to reform or upgrade is ongoing steadily. Much more needs to be done, such as those mentioned by the IGP,” he added.

Dr Hatta also expressed similar sentiments, saying that Abdul Hamid’s allegations were serious as they were based on his experience working in PDRM.

"This is because if it’s something that is made up, then the impact on himself is huge. He may be liable, but when he is bravely saying these, it paints a picture of a very rotten system within PDRM  itself. We are of course upset, but at the same time, news on the involvement of some of PDRM’s officers in several scams and cartels, this definitely sullies their name.

"So when it was exposed by the ex-IGP himself on the role of the minister in orchestrating and trying to arrange the movements within PDRM, we feel this is serious,” he added, saying that Abdul Hamid’s more recent statements were also incriminating.

Kok asserted that during her stint in the PH Cabinet, there had been no political interference in PDRM, especially with regards to matters of appointments.

"So now we want to see this time with the new IGP now, whether he would be conducting investigations, record statement from the home minister,” she said, adding that during PH’s time as the government, her Cabinet colleagues were also investigated by the police.

In the police report lodged using the same template by the MPs, they demanded that the police investigate certain points Abdul Hamid made in his tell-all press conference, before retiring from his role.

The MPs noted Abdul Hamid’s allegation that Hamzah demanded for power to decide on which officers should be placed "there, here and there”.

They also pointed out Abdul Hamid’s allegations of blatant corruption "everywhere”, when he was fighting corruption within PDRM, and his call to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to step in and take action.

The group also highlighted Abdul Hamid’s claim of a certain individual "flying on a private jet from here” to Sabah, after which one leader agreed to jump ship, and his call to the agency to investigate politicians.

During the press conference, Maria stressed on the need for the Independent Police Complaints of Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) after Abdul Hamid’s allegations.

"The IPCMC needs to be enforced immediately and I hope that when there is an investigation, ministers and police officers involved in these allegations, can take leave and allow the investigations to proceed. I think it is important that the investigations happen immediately,” she added.

On April 30, in his press conference before his retirement, Abdul Hamid described Hamzah’s interference in police matters as unnecessary and blamed the minister for the existence of different "camps” within the police force.

Abdul Hamid said that Hamzah as the chairman of the Police Force Commission (PFC) insisted on deciding transfers of police officers.

Abdul Hamid said he spoke to Hamzah about his interference and the role of PFC.

"I had twice brought it up to the Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin but nothing was done. Hamzah still wanted to have the power... it is not that I want to have the power but I needed it as that was my role.

"I did the groundwork and I know about the problems and the wrongdoings. So I need the power to decide,” he said.

Abdul Hamid said he was also disappointed with the PFC as many investigations into police misconduct were not looked into, and what is worse is the commission only meets four times a year.