No compromise for cops involved in crime - IGP

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar denied that police acted to protect their officers and staff involved in criminal activities, as alleged.

He stressed that any police personnel involved in crime could not escape legal action.

"No one will be given protection regardless of their rank if they commit an offence ... legal action will definitely be taken against them.

"This shows we do not protect anyone committing a crime, so the allegation that police would not take action against their own personnel is not true," he said.

He was asked to comment on the action to be taken against three policemen with the rank of corporal and constable who were detained with an accomplice over the kidnapping of a woman in Kampung Silam, Lahad Datu, Sabah recently.

In the incident at about 10 pm on Jan 6, a Suluk woman was approached by three masked men with firearms in her house before being dragged into a white, old Ford car with no registration number.

The 44-year-old victim, who is a fishmonger, was threatened with murder if she failed to pay RM50,000 as ransom before being allowed to contact a family member to prepare the sum of money.

Earlier, Khalid attended the handing-over of duty of the ASEANAPOL Secretariat executive director, here, today.

On another development, Khalid said the proposal for police personnel to pass the Body Mass Index (BMI) test and several other health checks as a condition for promotion and confirmation of post was fair, to raise their awareness on the importance of looking after their own health.

"The number of deaths among police personnel due to diabetes and high blood pressure is alarming. Therefore, it is important for police to find ways to tackle the problem for their personnel's own good," he added.

Recently, Bukit Aman Management director Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah announced that police personnel were required to pass the BMI test and several other health checks as a condition for promotion and confirmation of post.

The proposal which received the approval of the police leadership will be implemented at the latest, by year-end.