KOTA KINABALU: The call to appoint a Sabahan as the next state commissioner of police has received the support of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).
Its Youth chief Christopher Mandut said the proposal warranted attention, adding that senior police officers coming from Sabah would have a better understanding of the situation, crime trends and issues in their home state.
He said this in support of the recommendation of Sabah Drug and Crime Prevention Organisation (PPDJS) to name a new commissioner to take over from Comm Datuk Idris Abdullah, who is scheduled to retire this month.
“We do not mean to interfere in the police’s internal affairs but in order to strengthen the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), there is no reason why Sabahans cannot be appointed as a police commissioner in their home state.
“It seems to give an impression that Sabahans are not able to hold such important positions,” Mandut said in a statement on Wednesday (March 15).
He added that the appointment of Sabahans to high positions in the state was also in line with the struggles of PBS president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili when he held the position of Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) to implement the Borneonisation policy.
PPDJS adviser Mohd Zaki Harry Susanto recently said the sensitivities of people of various races and religions in Sabah would be more easily understood by Sabahans.
Mohd Zaki was also quoted as saying in a local news portal that there were two Sabahans in the Royal Malaysia Police who hold the rank of deputy commissioner presently.
They are Bukit Aman Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department deputy director (operations) Datuk Mazli Mazlan and Sabah deputy police commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun.
Mandut also paid tribute to Idris for his commitment as the current Sabah police commissioner, hailing him for carrying out an excellent job in ensuring that safety and public order were taken care of in the state.
