GEORGE TOWN: Gerakan today urged the Prime Minister to consider extending Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador's contract by another year or two for him to cleanse the force and restore its image. 

Its vice-president Datuk Baljit Singh said, with Abdul Hamid due to leave service soon as his contract expires in May, he feared the latter may be running out of time to initiate reforms within the force.

"It is clear that Abdul Hamid needs more time to clean up the force and he should be given every opportunity to do so.

"We would like to urge the Prime Minister to consider extending Abdul Hamid's contract by another year or two for him to continue cleansing the force and restore its image," he said today. 

Abdul Hamid, Baljit said, has been under the spotlight lately after his frank admission that there was something seriously wrong with the force.

He added that, for the first time, the number one cop in the country had revealed what most Malaysians already knew, that many donning the blue uniform were not fulfilling the responsibilities entrusted to them.

"Abdul Hamid openly admitted that some corrupt, high ranking officers under his command were in cahoots with members of the underworld, gangsters and criminals.

"He also revealed that there is a cartel within the police force, comprising younger officers, who want to disgrace and oust him. Their aim is to dominate the force for personal gain.

"He had also said how he felt betrayed by an officer from the Penang Commercial Crime Investigation Department who released suspects involved in a Macau scam syndicate.

"While we laud Abdul Hamid's openness in disclosing all these, Malaysians are also waiting with bated breath for action to be taken against such corrupt policemen and for him to weed out those undeserving to wear the blue uniform.

"I hope the government will take heed of the serious revelations exposed by Abdul Hamid about what is going on in the Royal Malaysian Police," he stressed.

Baljit said the government should also get the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to start its own investigation into the police force to stop the rot among the men in blue.

He noted that there was also a need for an independent, special task force to be established to clean up the force.

"I am sure Abdul Hamid will be more than willing for such measures to be initiated to help him restore the peoples' faith and trust in the police," he added.