Penang police chief Chuah Ghee Lye said they were also prepared to provide all the necessary information in the effort to combat the leakage of information on anti-drug operations.
“The Penang police contingent will be giving their full cooperation on the issue, and I will not compromise if my officers or other personnel are found protecting drug syndicates. I will take stern action against them.
“So far, I do not know if Penang police personnel are involved and we have been rotating our staff… so far I have not received any order from Bukit Aman over the matter,” he told reporters after the Penang police contingent headquarters’ monthly assembly here today.
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi directed all state and district police contingents hold investigations following an information leak on a drug operation.
Zahid reportedly said he did not rule out the possibility of the information leak following the arrest of 16 police personnel, including a Bukit Aman senior officer, with stern action to be taken against them after acquiring evidence.
On Monday, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Noor Rashid Ibrahim said Bukit Aman Narcotics CID would be reshuffled following the arrest of 16 senior officers and members suspected of conspiring with and protecting drug syndicates.
Meanwhile, Chuah said the Integrity and Standard Compliance Department at the Penang state police contingent had opened eight investigation papers with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) involving one officer and 20 personnel from last year until yesterday.
He said from the total, 12 were charged in court and five were suspended from work while another seven are in the process of being suspended from work.
“During the same period, three policemen were sacked after being convicted in MACC cases. I want to remind all officers and staff in the state on the importance of heightening integrity and we do not tolerate graft,” he said.
Earlier at the ceremony, Constable Muhammad Norzulkhairee Md Akhir, 27, received a certificate of appreciation from Chuah as well as a recognition letter from MACC for turning down a RM1,000 bribe from a suspect bringing in illegal immigrants.
Norzulkhairee, who is attached to the Tanjung Tokong police station, said the suspect was nabbed for offering RM1,000 to avoid arrest for bringing in four Bangladeshi men who did not have valid travel documents.