KUALA NERUS, 25 Aug 2017:
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).”
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%.
Civil servants must be prepared to leave the service when they reach the compulsory retirement age, said Khalid. He said the compulsory retirement age for civil servants is 60.
“As civil servants, when they reach 60 years-old, it is the age for their compulsory retirement, so they have to be prepared to leave teh service,” he said after a working visit to the Negeri Sembilan contingent police headquarters yesterday.
He said this when asked to comment on a report claiming that he would extend his tenure with the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM).
Khalid joined PDRM as an inspector at the Police Training Centre, Kuala Lumpur, on 5 Dec 1976 and began to serve as IGP on 17 May 2013.
He is due for compulsory retirement on Sept 15, after 41 years in the force.
Sharing his experiences as IGP, Khalid said the post made him surrounded by various challenges. “I cannot explain the biggest challenges, but my everyday’s challenge is to ensure the safety of Malaysians.”
Asked about his plans after retirement, Khalid said he was currently enrolled in a cooking class. “I’m in this class to develop my interest in cooking . Until now, I can only cook eggs,” he joked.
On his working visit, Khalid said it was a normal working visit before his retirement and Negeri Sembilan was selected because the contingent had a sentimental value for him.
“I can not possibly visit all the contingents, so I decided to visit the contingents that I have served before, such as Negeri Sembilan, because I had served here as the state police chief here and I am also from Negeri Sembilan.
“After Negeri Sembilan, I will visit the Kedah contingent because I had also served there as Narcotics Crime Investigation Department chief.”
Khalid also expressed his gratitude to the print and electronic media that had always provided him with support and cooperation.
“ I wish to thank the media including the electronic media that always support me, although some electronic media did criticise me, but I take it as a challenge.”
Khalid also called on the media to keep reporting on the facts and not those that were based on their own assumptions and comments.
– Bernama