JOHOR BARU: The mainstream media plays an important role in channelling the right information to the public and has helped the authorities in sharing the success of their operations, says outgoing Johor police chief, Comm Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay.

       Comm Ayob added that there had been a lot of challenges that he had faced throughout the time he held the position as the Johor police chief.

       He said that, without the help from the media, society would be burdened by false information that could send negative perceptions towards the state police.

       "Without the support from mainstream media, the social media would be flooded with false information and each and every success that we had would not have been shared with the public," he said.

       He said this during a speech at the Johor police monthly assembly and Johor police chief post handing over ceremony at the Johor police headquarters here on Sunday (Jan 2).

       He also said that during the 22 months he held the post as the Johor police chief, he had always stressed integrity, trust, responsibility, justice and fairness.

       "Do not be afraid to be criticised or even extorted for doing the right thing.

       "We should also never show compromise to anyone who is involved in criminal activities and misuse of power," he said, adding that the police should always lead by showing a good example to the public.

       Comm Ayob had also shared his gratitude to His Majesty, Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar and Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad for all the help given to the authorities during his stint.

       At the ceremony, Comm Ayob handed over his post to the Johor deputy police chief, Deputy Comm Datuk Khaw Kok Chin, who would be the acting Johor police chief for two weeks before the post is handed over to Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat, who is currently the Kedah police chief.

       The handing over ceremony was witnessed by Bukit Aman CID director Comm Datuk Seri Abd Jalil Hassan.

       Comm Ayob had been appointed as the new Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director and would officially move to his new post on Jan 25.

       Some of the cases that Comm Ayob had handled during his stint included the illegal meat cartel syndicate, drug trafficking-by-drone to Singapore, state-wide raids on illegal gambling, and the case of the alleged Macau scam ringleader, Datuk Seri Nicky Liow Soon Hee.

       Other cases include the NCID's success in confiscating drugs worth RM201 back in January 2021.

       He first made headlines when Johor police managed to bust a major human-trafficking syndicate, which included the arrest of officers from the Immigration Department back in June 2020.