The Home Ministry has denied the outgoing inspector general of police (IGP) Musa Hassan's claims of interference in the force by the higher-ups.

Reading out from a statement, the ministry secretary-general Mahmood Adam said: "Sometimes, the suggestions by the police were not considered fully by the ministry and this may have seem like 'interference' in the daily work of the police.

musa hassan mahmood adam ismail omar 080910 igp "But at the same time, the main duty and service of PDRM (Royal Malaysian Police) is their own responsibility and the issue of interference by the ministry does not exist," said Mahmood ( left ) after the handing-over ceremony from Musa to his deputy and incoming IGP, Ismail Omar at the Bukit Aman police headquarters this morning.

In the three-page press statement entitled ‘The Home Ministry has a close relationship with the PDRM’, Mahmood explained that the ministry meets every week on the logistics management of the police such as human resource and additional supplies.

musa hassan mahmood adam ismail omar 080910 igp “If the requests are not met, it would only appear as though the ministry is interfering in the management of PDRM.

“However, every requests and planning for the police - like any other government agencies - are subjected to government policy, financial procedures and other regulations,” he said in a brief and hurried press conference flanked by both Musa and Ismail on a three-seater sofa.

Musa, 57, who looked on expressionless while Mahmood read the statement, told journalists later that the Home Ministry had made its explanation over the matter.

“I do not want to contradict the ministry,” he said. 

When asked on the call by PKR strategic director Tian Chua for him to lodge a report over the alleged interference, Musa said he would consider the suggestion when he became a civilian on Sept 13.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein did not attend today's handing-over ceremony of the country's top cops.

Musa kicks a fuss

Over the past few days, Musa had made startling claims that police duty is sometimes impeded by the ministry.

hishammuddin ismail omar musa hassan 010910 In his final press conference on Monday, he had also laid claims that he was not informed properly that his contract - which ends on Sept 12 - would not be renewed, and only found out about it when Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein announced it at a press conference last Wednesday.

To that, Mahmood said that he had verbally informed Musa that his contract would not be renewed a week before the announcement, as well as the morning before Hishammuddin’s press conference.

“It is simply because the contract ends on a Hari Raya weekend, which is why we had to announce it earlier," said Mahmood.

Musa, who had been with the force for 41 years, was also the investigating officer at Anwar Ibrahim’s first sodomy case in 1998.

The incoming deputy IGP is Hussin Ismail.

Musa tells police force: Don't be yes men