Anwar says any action involving AKPS chief Mohd Shuhaily must follow the law and proper procedures, stressing that the AGC decides whether charges should be filed.
KUALA LUMPUR: Any action involving Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) director-general Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain must be taken in accordance with established investigation procedures and the law, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
He said an officer’s performance and contributions would not exempt them from action if reports or allegations of legal violations were made against them.
“Regardless of how good an officer is, he must abide by the rules. If there is any action that violates the law, the matter must go through the proper process.
“If a police report is lodged by anyone, it must be investigated. The decision on whether a person should be charged rests with the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC),” he said.
Anwar was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim (Perikatan Nasional-Arau), who sought clarification on the government’s decision to transfer Mohd Shuhaily back to the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), while suggesting that he remain at the helm of AKPS.
Anwar said Mohd Shuhaily’s appointment to AKPS had initially been proposed by the government after his performance was taken into consideration.
“It is true that AKPS was established under the current Home Minister. His appointment, Mohd Shuhaily, was our own proposal.
“Under the previous administration, he had been sidelined and demoted. We were the ones who restored his position because of his performance,” he said.
He stressed that the government should not interfere in the investigation process, including decisions on whether a case should be brought to court.
Anwar reiterated that the authority to decide whether an individual should be prosecuted rests with the AGC, while any disciplinary action against a public servant facing charges must comply with the relevant regulations.
Earlier, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said he had decided to return Mohd Shuhaily, who was serving as AKPS director-general under a cadre secondment arrangement, to PDRM.
On Oct 21, Mohd Shuhaily pleaded not guilty to two charges of voluntarily causing hurt to two police personnel at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang on Sept 28.
