IGP: Low salary, attitude among factors why cops involved in graft

SHAH ALAM: Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Razaruddin Husain conceded that low salaries and individual a itude are among the contributing factors to police officers and personnel being involved in corruption.

He said apart from these, several other factors needed to be looked at to produce officers and members who are ‘clean’ and have integrity.

“I acknowledge that the salary is one of the factors that we need to look at. A constable’s salary at entry is RM1,441 and with all the allowances it is RM2,500.

“Living in Kuala Lumpur, he is categorised as urban poor, but if he lives in Kuala Nerang in Kedah, Besut in Terengganu, or Kinabatangan or Beluran in Sabah, his salary is a lot.

“So that’s one of the factors to be looked at,” he told reporters a er a walkabout at the Pandamaran morning market here yesterday, adding the ma er has been brought up to the government.

He said the situation in Malaysia is different compared to Singapore, where higher police salaries are credited with the absence of corruption among the force.

“Singapore is a small country. We have 137,000 police personnel and the number will increase this year with the entry of another 4,000 (officers and personnel),” he said.

On individual a itude, Razaruddin explained that there are cases of corruption involving those with high income.

“We have read news of company and agency directors arrested (for gra ). Are their salaries low? It also depends on a itude,” he stressed.

Separately, Razaruddin said he would not stop any party from lodging a report against any police officer or personnel if they had violated the law, including himself.

“The public has the right in terms of law and constitution to channel information or make a report against any policeman in this country. If I break the law and do not follow the rules, report it because I am also the police.

“We are open and welcome people to provide information and report so that a fair investigation can be carried out. Any officers and members involved, we will charge in court,” he said. — Bernama