PETALING JAYA: Former Special Branch (SB) deputy director Datuk Abdul Hamid Bador said he believed his outspokenness over several issues, including the probe into 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), had led to his transfer out of the police force.

He told reporters yesterday that his refusal to carry out certain “agendas” could also have been part of the reason.

“The rumour of my transfer had been going on for four months, that there were ‘invisible powers’ who did not want me to be in the Special Branch,” Abdul Hamid told the media at a press conference in Kota Damansara here yesterday.

“It could be because I had asked for the investigation into 1MDB to be carried out transparently,” he said. Abdul Hamid was told of his transfer to a new security division in the Prime Minister’s Department last Monday. He said two weeks before the transfer order came out, he was instructed to present himself at Bukit Aman to meet with newly-appointed Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, where he was given two choices for his next posting.

“The DPM, who is also Home Minister, patted me on the back and said he had met with the Prime Minister after Friday prayers, and I had two options of the places I could go to. It was either the  National Security Council or the Prime Minister’s Department,” said Abdul Hamid.

Abdul Hamid said he was shocked, but chose the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). He  said he also had a discussion with Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar prior to the meeting with Ahmad Zahid, where he told the top policeman of his desire to be retained in the police force.

“I was stunned and shocked. But then on Aug 17, I received a transfer order to take on a post as deputy director of the transnational crime division. It got me thinking why they needed to have this unit when we already have a counterterrorism unit and other reliable departments,” Abdul Hamid said.

He said that after receiving the order, he made enquiries with the PMO about the unit. “I was told that the post was not ready and that the Public Service Department is still figuring it out.”

This made him believe that the post was created and the transfer made to put in him in “cold storage”, Abdul Hamid said. He also disagreed with Khalid’s statement that his transfer to the PMO was a form of recognition.“I am sorry, IGP. You are a good boss but I don’t think it’s for recognition,” he said.

Abdul Hamid’s transfer to PMO came after the SB’s No 1, Datuk Seri Akhil Bulat, retired last Monday. Akhil was succeeded by Datuk Seri Mohamad Fuzi Haron, who was Bukit Aman’s management department director.  Abdul Hamid said he was unhappy with how Akhil had been treated nearing his retirement. The former director had gone on leave to visit his children studying abroad and his successor was announced during that time.

“The manner of the appointment was so insulting,” he said, adding that while Akhil was not one to complain, he (Abdul Hamid) felt obliged to speak up. “He was in the police force for about 40 years. Yes, he does not want to renew his contract, but why was his service ended in such a way while he still had two weeks to go?”

Abdul Hamid denied being upset over being bypassed as Akhil’s replacement. “I am not,” he said. — The Malaysian Insider

This article first appeared in digitaledge Daily, on August 24, 2015.