26-7-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) has disclosed that nearly 1,700 officers have been dismissed from service over the past decade. This sobering statistic, shared by Bukit Aman Department of Integrity and Standards Compliance (JIPS) director Azri Ahmad, paints a picture of a force grappling with issues of integrity and professionalism.
Speaking at an event marking JIPS’s 10th anniversary, Mr Azri provided a comprehensive overview of the department’s efforts to maintain discipline within the police ranks. The figures he presented were both impressive in scale and concerning in implication.
Since 2014, a staggering 15,546 officers have faced various disciplinary actions, while over 40,000 disciplinary inquiry and investigation papers have been opened. These numbers reflect the immense task undertaken by JIPS in its mission to uphold the highest standards within the force.
The department’s Compliance Branch has been particularly active, with between 10,000 to 20,000 personnel under regular monitoring and inspection. Mr Azri emphasised the focus on frontline officers, those who interact directly with the public, ensuring their adherence to laws, regulations, and standard operating procedures.
“Any officer found to be engaging in misconduct will be dealt with accordingly,” Mr Azri stated firmly. “The basic principle is that the more frequent the inspections, the higher the level of prevention.”
The statistics for recent years are particularly telling. In 2022 alone, out of 19,352 officers inspected, 1,396 were found to have committed various misconducts. The first half of 2023 saw 11,221 inspections resulting in 689 detected misconducts.
Perhaps most alarming is the work of the JIPS Intelligence and Operations Branch, which has arrested 798 police officers over the decade for offences ranging from gambling and drug-related crimes to inappropriate conduct at entertainment centres.
These internal policing efforts have not been without significant results. JIPS has processed nearly 50,000 complaints and information reports, primarily concerning corruption, abuse of power, and misconduct.
Recent high-profile cases have further underscored the gravity of the situation. In May, two senior officers were charged with accepting a RM1 million (US$215,000) bribe to close an investigation linked to an arms purchase. In a separate case, six officers, including senior personnel, were arrested in connection with a RM1.25 million extortion case.
