Police commission to meet to pick retiring IGP's successor - Zahid

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is to chair a meeting of the Police Commission to find a successor to Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar who retires next month.

He said the name of the selected successor would be presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V, on Sept 4 for His Majesty’s consent before the official appointment was announced.

“I will chair a meeting of the Police Commission to decide on the successor to Tan Sri Khalid (Abu Bakar) and also determine the directors of several departments in the Royal Malaysia Police.

“I hope there will be no speculation on the appointment of the successor and the Deputy IGP. These appointments will be made after obtaining the consent of Tuanku (Yang di-Pertuan Agong),” he said.

Ahmad Zahid spoke to reporters after opening the Kuala Nerus UMNO Division delegates meeting at the Gong Badak Indoor Stadium here today.

Khalid had told the media that he would retire next month after 40 years of service in the police force and would not want to extend his contract even if the government offered to.

Ahmad Zahid said he respected Khalid’s decision and expressed his appreciation to him for having contributed to enhancing the image of policing through various transformation initiatives.

“He has undertaken much transformation in Bukit Aman and helped to translate the Home Ministry vision to reduce the crime index at the national level, reducing the rate to 47 per cent.

On another matter, Ahmad Zahid, who is an UMNO vice-president discharging the duties of the deputy president, said all the state UMNO committees had sent their list of electoral candidates to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is the UMNO president.

“The list of candidates is not final because we will scrutinise the candidates on their potential to win at the state and parliamentary levels.

“The same methodology will be used for the other BN component parties. Every candidate will be selected by the respective presidents along the lines utilised by UMNO,” he said.

-- BERNAMA