“The revelations from both these former chiefs of key government institutions are very serious, especially since they involve political interference and corruption in bodies that are supposed to defend the Federal Constitution, rule of law and national security.

“I will ask the ministers who represent Umno to push for this in the Cabinet so that immediate action can be taken,” Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said in a statement today.

There are nine Umno ministers in the Cabinet, namely Ismail Sabri Yaakob (defence), Hishammuddin Hussein (foreign affairs), Dr Adham Baba (health), Khairy Jamaluddin (science, technology and innovation), Annuar Musa (federal territories), Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (energy and natural resources), Noraini Ahmad (higher education), Halimah Mohamad Saddique (national unity) and Reezal Merican Naina Merican (youth and sports).

Zahid added that the establishment of an RCI would restore the people’s trust and confidence in these institutions as they have taken a beating following these allegations.

In his last press conference as the IGP last Friday, Hamid claimed home minister Hamzah Zainudin interfered in police matters and had been pushing to get power to determine where police officers will be placed.

He also spoke of his disdain in battling corruption in the force to only see corruption “everywhere” in politics, adding that politicians were quick to point fingers at the force when policemen were involved in bribery but ignored their own wrongdoings.

Released in January to overwhelming demand, Thomas’ memoir was filled with allegations concerning the judiciary and the backroom wheeling and dealing in politics, such as events behind the resignation of Dr Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister and the fall of the Pakatan Harapan government.