Newly minted Johor Police Chief Comm M.Kumar showing of a special custom-made baton of command from His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia after he took over as the state top cop. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
DO your job and I expect you to perform as in Johor merit counts, recalls Comm M. Kumar during his brief session with His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia when he was posted to the state nine years ago.
Comm Kumar said that although it was only a brief 10-minute audience with the Ruler in Johor Baru, it was a meaningful and impactful one that left a mark on him.
Now serving as Johor’s newly minted police chief, the 55-year-old, who started off as a probationary inspector in 1991, carries out his duties as the state’s top crime buster without fear or favour.
His first stint in Johor was in 1993 when he was posted as an investigating officer to Segamat for almost 10 years.
Recalling his encounter with Sultan Ibrahim, Comm Kumar said that he was just promoted as the Mersing police chief with the rank of Deputy Supt in 2015.
“My police chief then Datuk Seri Comm Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff and I had gone to see the Ruler so that I could be introduced. I was trembling inside throughout the meeting. I did not utter a single word except to acknowledge that I take note of the Ruler’s advice and will do my best in discharging my duties,” he said, adding that at one point Sultan Ibrahim, who realised that he could have looked nervous, had asked him to finish up his coffee.
He added that within a few days, he also had an audience with Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who was the Tunku Mahkota then.
Comm Kumar together with Sultan Ibrahim during an audience after he took over as the new police chief in Johor. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
“Tunku Ismail also reminded me to do my job and deliver results.
“One quote I will always cherish from him is Mission and Vision without execution is mere illusion,” he said, adding that a lot of his interactions with the Johor palace started when he was promoted as the Deputy OCPD of Johor Baru South with the rank of Superintendent the following year.
Comm Kumar, who has been with the police for the past 32 years, described Sultan Ibrahim as a very meticulous and hands-on royalty.
“There is nothing that goes on in Johor that he doesn’t know.
“Sultan Ibrahim has eyes and ears in every corner of Johor,” he said, adding that Sultan Ibrahim had many times reminded him to discharge his duties without fear or favour.
He added that His Majesty had assured him that there would be no interference from the Johor Palace and there were occasions that Sultan Ibrahim had outright told him to perform his duties well or be prepared to leave.
“This has put me on my toes all the time as whenever the Ruler wants to know about an issue, he expects you to have the details as he will call to find out personally even if it is late at night,” Comm Kumar said, adding that Sultan Ibrahim and Tunku Ismail placed paramount importance on the safety and security of Bangsa Johor.
Comm Kumar, who rose through the ranks in Johor since 2015, was briefly out of the state after he was appointed Bukit Aman’s narcotics department chief assistant director (forfeiture, legal and investigations) during the Covid-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2022.
He added that he was subsequently posted to Johor as deputy police chief in October 2022.
Comm Kumar, who has a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from International Islamic University Malaysia, said that by this time, he was familiar with Johor, especially working with the palace.
He said that this time Sultan Ibrahim’s message was, “You know the Do’s and Don’ts. Perform and I expect utmost integrity from you”.
Comm Kumar said that despite being a man of discipline due to his military background, the Johor Ruler also has a soft side to him as once he personally cooked biryani for him for about three days because the monarch felt that he was too thin.
Comm Kumar showing his special corner at the entrance to his office at the state police headquarters to The Star’s News Editor Nelson Benjamin. —THOMAS YONG/The Star
“Sultan Ibrahim also cares for the people around him, by asking if his staff have eaten, including the police outriders and escorts,” he said, adding that Sultan Ibrahim treats everyone nicely and with mutual respect.
Comm Kumar, who has been involved in the annual Kembara Mahkota event since being posted to the state, said that the royal family was very popular among Johoreans regardless of race or religion because of the huge turnout at the various stops during the trip.
Asked about his biggest challenge since being posted to Johor, Comm Kumar recalled when he took part in Sultan Ibrahim’s coronation within one and a half months of being posted to Johor on March 23, 2015.
“That time our police chief had directed all 13 district police chiefs (OCPD) or their deputies to be on the ground along the road to ensure everything went on smoothly. I still practise that especially during the recent Chingay parade in early March when all OCPDs or their deputies were given areas along the procession route to ensure safety and security of everyone,” he said, adding that during his stint here, he had been awarded two medals including the Sultan Ibrahim Johor Medal Second Class (PSI II) and The Most Exalted order of the Sultan Ibrahim Johor Third Class Setia Mulia Sultan Ibrahim Johor (SIJ).
Comm Kumar, who has even set up a special corner at the entrance to his office at the state police headquarters as a tribute to the King and Regent, said that he was touched when Sultan Ibrahim gifted him a customised baton with the royal emblem about two weeks after taking charge as the police chief on Jan 24.
He said that he was truly blessed and thankful for the trust and faith placed in him by Sultan Ibrahim, Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, Regent of Johor Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, his deputy Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay and Bukit Aman’s top leadership.“I am also grateful to all the former police chiefs who have also guided me during my career. I will never fail him (Sultan Ibrahim), the people of Johor or my police leadership in discharging my duties,” he said, adding that he also thanked everyone in the state government including the Mentri Besar, state secretary, his officers and men and the public for their encouragement and support.
“I also take this opportunity to wish Tuanku for his birthday,” he said, adding that he had always wanted to be a policeman and had worked briefly in the banking sector before being selected to undergo police training.
