‘Police officers know that each time they put on their uniform, they are taking on risks to protect others.’ — Mike Parson, Missouri Governor
This is not the first time I’ve posed this question and I don’t think it will be the last.
For as long as eligible and qualified Sarawak police officers continue to be “sidelined” for the top post of Sarawak Commissioner of Police (CP), there will be Sarawakians like me who will harp on the issue.
Let me say this too. I’m not a politician hoping to score brownie points from those in the police force by speaking up for them. I have no personal interests at all on this issue.
I have no children, siblings or relatives in the police force. None. However, a cousin retired as the Sarawak CID chief more than 15 years ago.
I have written about this subject and am doing so again today in the interest of fair play and justice for the men in blue in Sarawak.
It’s unbelievable and inconceivable that police officers who are Sarawakians are unqualified to be the top cop in their homeland. When did we last have a Sarawakian appointed as the Sarawak CP?
If my memory serves me correct, I think the last Sarawakian in the top job was Datuk Seri Mortadza Nazarene. I can recall that in 2011, I had wanted to meet Commissioner Mortadza over an NGO matter but ended up seeing his deputy, Datuk Law Hong Soon, instead.
Both Mortadza and Law had since retired.
So, it has been a decade or more since we last saw a Sarawakian as the top cop.
Before Mortadza, the other two Sarawakians to hold the post were Tan Sri Hamdan Sirat and Datuk Awang Ehsan Joini.
I think there were only three but I stand corrected here. I could be wrong. Unfortunately, I could not locate a Sarawak PDRM website which has the full list of Sarawak CPs since Independence.
dependence. I’ve posed “Are Sarawak police officers only fit to be No 2?” because that seemed to be the case in the history of the Sarawak Constabulary/ Contingent since 1963.
In years gone by, I’ve the privilege to know a few police officers in Sarawak who rose up only to be Number Two – Sarawak Deputy Commissioner of Police. Notable among them were Datuk Aba Robiyel Huk and Datuk Vincent Khoo.
Aba Huk was deputy to the long-serving Datuk Seri Yuen Yuet Leng in the early 80s. Somehow, Aba Huk never had the chance (or luck as some call it) to be Number One.
Instead, he was later transferred to Penang to be its Chief Police Officer (CPO). This was when Aba Huk was promoted to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP which would also have qualified him to be the Sarawak CP then. After Penang, he retired as the Perak CPO.
Khoo was another Number Two who never made it to Number One. I think he was promoted as Sarawak’s deputy just for a short period prior to his retirement.
Another Sarawakian who had served as Number Two is the current deputy, Datuk Mancha Ata, who hails from Kota Samarahan.
However, from Feb 21 until today, Mancha has been the acting Sarawak CP after the departure of Datuk Aidi Ismail to take up a new posting in Bukit Aman.
However, it was announced on March 26 that Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri is slated to be the upcoming Sarawak Police Commissioner.
However, no date has been revealed as to when Mohd Azman will be assuming the post. Currently, Mohd Azman is the Bukit Aman Crime Investigation Department Intelligence/Operations deputy director with the rank of DCP.
With the transfer, Mohd Azman will be promoted to the rank of Commissioner of Police (CP), a Bukit Aman media statement said.
One couldn’t help but ask why Mancha, a Sarawakian, was not promoted to be the Sarawak CP when there was obviously a vacancy and when he has been acting in the post.
Granted, we do not know the dynamics of the Police Commission dealing with the promotions and transfers of officers but surely, we could query why no Sarawakian officer is eligible and qualified to be the CP, even after a lapse of so many years.
I think it is also not too much to ask that a Sarawak police officer be considered for the top job, say once in every 10 years.
That’s the least Bukit Aman should do to accord some respect and dignity for the men and women in blue in the Land of the Hornbill.
I’m sure Sarawak police officers are also proud of the Royal Malaysian Police’s motto, “Tegas, Adil and Berhemah” (Firm, Just and Well-Mannered).
Dear Bukit Aman, please spread the love for the motto more in Sarawak. You know, it’s tough and stressful playing second fiddle all the time. There’s very little joy in it.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune. Feedback can reach the writer at sirsiah@gmail.com
