KUALA LUMPUR: Investigations by the authorities have found that there is no evidence to back up allegations that ranks and promotions within the police can be bought, the Home Ministry told Parliament on Tuesday (Nov 16).

       Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin said the investigation carried out by Bukit Aman's Integrity and Standards Compliance Department (JIPS) found the claim were baseless.

       "An in-depth investigation by JIPS from all angles of standards and discipline found that this matter does not exist, and all matters concerning the promotion of officers are being done according to correct procedures,"he said.

       Hamzah was speaking during his winding-up speech on Budget 2022.

       Last month, a woman claimed that a police officer with the rank of deputy superintendent had threatened to kill her after she had demanded he return RM100,000 she had loaned him, supposedly to secure the rank of superintendent.

       Last month, IGP Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani denied the claim, saying that all matters relating promotions and transfers follow procedures and official channels.

       The House then experienced a fiery moment when R. Sivarasa (PH-Sungai Buloh) and Ramkarpal Singh (PH-Bukit Gelugor) questioned whether claims by former IGP Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador on internal "cartels" within the police were taken seriously.

       "The statement by the former IGP involved several allegations involving the Home Minister.

       "Has Abdul Hamid been called in for questioning?" questioned Sivarasa.

       Ramkarpal then interjected and said that Abdul Hamid's claims, as a former IGP, must be taken seriously.

       "I want to explain here that the police have conducted investigations and surely, everyone involved was called in for questioning," said Hamzah.

       However, Ramkarpal did not relent and a shouting match ensued.

       Hamzah then asked Ramkarpal to sit down as he had the floor as Home Minister to give his speech.

       "This is not a court for you to ask me that kind of question. I've already answered you," said Hamzah before finishing his speech.

       On March 23, Abdul Hamid claimed that there was a "cartel" within the police force plotting to tarnish his image and topple him.

       Abdul Hamid also claimed that Hamzah was trying to influence promotions in the police service.

       In May, Abdul Hamid was replaced by Acryl Sani, who said the matter was being probed by the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC).

       More recently, twitter account Edisi Siasat had also made serious allegations involving high-ranking enforcement agency officials.

       On Nov 8, Acryl Sani said that most claims made by Edisi Siasat were sensationalised and 13 investigation papers have been opened against the Twitter account.