He said stern action must be taken so that such crimes did not destroy the integrity of the departments and agencies under the home ministry.

“Regardless of the officer’s post or rank, I won’t shy away and will take action against those who are untrustworthy.

“I want to see the Royal Malaysia Police at the forefront (in the fight against corruption) even though we have to cut off our ‘gangrenous hands and feet’ which can destroy our whole body. We should be clean and seen to be clean.”

Zahid said this in his speech at a reception with 378 participants of the 2016 Post-Graduate Diploma in Public Administration (DPA) programme at the National Institute of Public Administration in Bukit Kiara here today.

He said although the crime index had dropped, public perception towards enforcement officers had not changed, more so with the ongoing investigations into cases of corruption and abuse of power linked to a number of police personnel in Melaka and Bukit Aman.

Meanwhile, he reminded participants of the post-graduate DPA programme who would begin serving in the Malaysian Administrative and Diplomatic Service next week, to always be loyal to the leaders and government of the day.

“When there is a new cabinet after a general election or a cabinet reshuffle, there will be ministers coming and going.

“But we should not be biased whoever the minister is. Respect the old and love the new,” he said.

The deputy prime minister also reminded them to work hard and uphold the nation’s pride wherever they were posted to, whether in the country or abroad.