PETALING JAYA: The inspector-general of police (IGP) has refuted claims that the government has withdrawn the personal bodyguard service provided by the police Special Action Unit (UTK) for former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Mohamad Fuzi Harun was quoted by Utusan Malaysia today as saying that Mahathir, 92, still enjoyed the special right to official protection.

He said only a few ordinary members of the security escort team had been directed to return to the unit’s base to be posted for duties elsewhere.

“It is not true at all. The personal bodyguards, comprising UTK officers, are still serving with Dr Mahathir,” he said.

“Only some ordinary members have been called back for other assignments. This is a normal procedure,” Fuzi was quoted as saying.

On Nov 1, Mahathir, who is now PPBM chairman, had claimed in a Facebook posting that police had withdrawn the UTK’s personal bodyguard service for him.

Last year, Putrajaya had ended the contract of Mahathir’s cook and office assistant, and his police outriders were also withdrawn after his privileges were revoked following his attendance at anti-government events.

The then IGP Khalid Abu Bakar had said that Mahathir would have to apply for traffic police escorts that would be approved only if he was attending an official government function.

Mahathir, the longest-serving prime minister in Malaysia, having been in office for 22 years till 2003, quit Umno in February 2016.

He then formed PPBM in September, claiming that he wanted to “save the country” by ousting prime minister Najib Razak’s government.

PPBM joined Pakatan Harapan (PH) in March this year and Mahathir was named the coalition’s chairman on July 13.

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