Fighting corruption is not impossible if those in power have the political will and courage to act, says former deputy inspector-general of police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay.
Ayob Khan, who retired last month after nearly 35 years in the police force, said integrity must begin at the top, with senior leaders setting the right example for those under them.
“If the top is not right, you will have problems at the bottom,” he told FMT in an interview.
He said leaders could not claim to be serious about fighting corruption if they were unwilling to act against those in positions of power, citing his own experience of taking action against senior officers.
“I have taken action against department heads involved in corruption and contract issues. If you want to do it, you can. We just need the courage,” he said.
Ayob Khan said meaningful change ultimately depended on political will, arguing that those in authority had the power to reform institutions if they were prepared to act.
“There is nothing impossible. We can make changes. I like the principle of Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih when he conquered Constantinople, now Istanbul: never say something is impossible before trying,” he said.
Better pay needed to attract non-Malays
Ayob Khan also said the number of non-Malays joining the police force had declined significantly compared with the years immediately after independence.
Home ministry data revealed in Parliament showed that only 7,581, or 5.55%, of the police force’s 136,503 personnel were non-Bumiputeras.
He said remuneration was one reason the force struggled to attract more non-Malays, particularly as Malaysians today had far more career options than previous generations.
“Now people have choices. Try looking at their salaries. If you cannot afford to pay the same salary, how do you expect to attract more people?” he said.
Ayob Khan also criticised the RM300 monthly housing allowance for police personnel, saying it was insufficient to cover living costs in major urban centres.
“With RM300, what kind of place can you rent?” he asked.
He called on the government to review the salaries of lower-ranking personnel, particularly constables earning between RM2,000 and RM2,500 a month, and to introduce special allowances for those stationed in major cities.
He said better salaries and allowances could help the police force attract and retain talent.
Review needed for senior police grades
Ayob Khan also called for a review of the civil service grades assigned to senior police officers, saying the current structure did not adequately reflect the force’s chain of command.
He noted that the deputy IGP currently shares the same civil service grade as the directors of the Special Branch and the internal security and public order department, despite both departments being under the deputy IGP’s command.
This, he said, could make it difficult for the deputy IGP to issue orders or assign duties to officers who technically hold the same grade.
Ayob Khan proposed elevating the deputy IGP post to Turus III to better reflect the position’s authority and responsibilities.
