C4: Police business ties a concern

The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center) has expressed concern over the police and their top officers business connections.

In a statement today, C4 Center executive director Cynthia Gabriel said Royal Malaysia Police Cooperative Berhad (KPD) and its subsidiary KOP Mantap Bhd were both major business concerns.

Gabriel also noted that former inspector-general of police Fuzi Harun and his predecessor Norr Rashid Ibrahim were both KPD board members when they were in service.

She also pointed out that Fuzi and another former IGP, Khalid Abu Bakar, were directors of two of KOP Mantap's subsidiaries when in service.

"All these business joint ventures and partnerships with private entities and or individuals create a huge grey area and raise a question – whether the police force would be business-minded or remain ethical as expected from every member of the police force.

"The conflict of interest becomes inevitable when law enforcement agencies are involved in businesses. It creates opportunities for abuse of power and leads to corruption," she said.

In view of this, Gabriel urged current IGP Abdul Hamid Bador to look into the matter as part of efforts to reform the police, adding the C4 Center hoped for a dialogue.

C4 Center's position on this matter stemmed from Abdul Hamid's recent revelation that there were 67 associations abusing the name of the Royal Malaysian Police.

According to Abdul Hamid, the associations had nothing to do with the police yet were soliciting donations, corporate sponsorships and were selling items with the police logo.

KOP Mantap has an interest in the following companies:

KOP Petroleum Sdn Bhd

KOP Property Development Sdn Bhd

KOP Computer Sdn Bhd

KOP Perunding Risiko (M) Sdn Bhd

KOP Fire Engineering Sdn Bhd

KOP Bintang Sdn Bhd

KOP Property Maintenance Sdn Bhd

KOP Construction Services (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd

KOP Trading Sdn Bhd

KOP Plantation Sdn Bhd

KOP Printing and Stationery Sdn Bhd

KOP Dahlia Hotel Sdn Bhd

KOP Limousine Services Sdn Bhd

KOP Nusantara Hotel Sdn Bhd