KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador is deeply disappointed with the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission’s (EAIC) findings on the non-existence of a police cartel.

       The former inspector-general of police said the EAIC report on the system in the police force was “shallow and incorrect”.

       "On paper, it shows the process (of appointments, transfers and promotions of police personnel and officers) is transparent and hard to penetrate.

       "However, there are bad elements that disrupt the process," he said when contacted on Wednesday (Feb 23).

       Abdul Hamid said he had made a statement on the matter sincerely.

       "I did it for the sake of the country. Be brave for the truth," he said.

       On Tuesday (Feb 22), EAIC chairman Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan said the commission was unable to determine allegations that there was a “cartel” within the police force as claimed by Abdul Hamid before his retirement.

       He said they had concluded their investigations into the issue raised by Abdul Hamid on March 18 and March 22 last year.

       “Based on witness testimonies and documents obtained by EAIC, we cannot confirm the existence of a cartel within the police force as alleged by Abdul Hamid.

       “The EAIC investigation found there were officers involved in criminal syndicate activities following investigations conducted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the police.

       “However, Abdul Hamid’s claim that the officers were able to arrange positions in the force to control it for personal gain could not be verified,” Sidek said.

       He added that the claims could not be verified because appointments, promotions and the transfer mechanism practised by the police and the Police Force Commission (PFC) involved a thorough process and had several layers that were difficult to penetrate and be manipulated by outsiders.

       “The IGP is a permanent member of the PFC and any proposed appointment, promotion and change of police staffing to the PFC must be approved by the IGP.

       “Abdul Hamid’s position as IGP cannot be challenged because the appointment of IGP is based on the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, on the advice of the Prime Minister,” he said.

       Sidek said the commission’s findings have been submitted to the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.

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

       In May, Abdul Hamid was replaced by Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, who said the matter was being probed by the EAIC.