A former Special Branch deputy director who was removed from his post after criticism of the 1MDB investigation in 2015, Hamid was later transferred to the Prime Minister’s Department but refused to report for work.
Left out in the cold, he was appointed one of the four members of a special task force to investigate 1MDB when Pakatan Harapan took over Putrajaya in May 2018.
He was also named Bukit Aman Special Branch chief the same month and took over the top cop’s post in May 2019, when he replaced Mohamad Fuzi Harun.
Yes to IPCMC but …
Just days after taking over the helm, the police agreed to the setting up of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), but only after being assured that they will not lose their power and authority.
Meant to check on police misconduct, promote integrity within the police force and advise the government on the improvement of police welfare, the oversight body never got off the ground.
It was replaced by the Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) Bill 2020, which critics say is flawed as it allows top police officers to influence investigations into misconduct and allows police officers to refuse to answer questions in an investigation into misconduct.
Unable to find Jho Low
Hamid has admitted that the failure to capture fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, the alleged mastermind of the 1MDB scandal, will count as one of his biggest regrets as the country’s No 1 cop.
Despite promises that the fugitive, better known as Jho Low, would be guaranteed safety if he returned, and efforts to locate him with the cooperation of numerous international enforcement agencies, Low remains an elusive figure until today.
‘In communication’ with Indira’s ex-husband
Hamid created a storm when he said he knew the location of the former husband of Indira Gandhi and was in communication with him.
Indira’s 11-month daughter was taken away by Riduan Abdullah, before he converted to Islam in 2009. The courts ordered Riduan to return Prasana Diksa to Indira, but both of them have not been seen since.
Despite help from “certain senior politicians” to convince Indira’s former husband to return, and stating that Bukit Aman was working towards achieving a “happy ending” by reuniting the mother with her long-lost daughter, the girl has yet to be located after more than a decade.
Cartel of ‘dirty cops’
Hamid started off the year alleging that a “cartel of dirty cops” in the police force was working to ensure that their collaborators get promoted, so they can dominate their teams and the police hierarchy in the future – making it easier for them to do their “dirty work”.
He later said he had the plotters “under control”, stating that he first had to expose the matter to deter other “Young Turks” from executing “dirty plans”.
Warning against drug lords
Hamid said police had identified several masterminds of drug trafficking syndicates hiding behind their Tan Sri, Datuk Seri and Datuk titles.
Stating that the Narcotics Department at Bukit Aman was in the process of taking action against the drug lords, he admitted that it was difficult to obtain information that could link them to drug trafficking activities as the masterminds used their legitimate businesses as a cover for their illegal activities.
Top brass not spared
In March, Hamid revealed that a culture of asking for money existed not only among the lower ranks of the police force but even at the top levels – a practice he wanted to see eradicated once and for all.
He also said that there were several retired officers who were still using their former positions to request “various things” from officers still in the force.
Ends tenure with ‘explosive’ press conference
Going out with a bang, Hamid’s last press conference as IGP saw him decry home minister Hamzah Zainudin’s interference in police matters and call on MACC to probe incidences of party-hopping among politicians.
His explosive meeting with members of the media came hours after Hamzah confirmed that he was the person in a leaked recording of a conversation on the reshuffle of the police force, an issue which Hamid said was “not good for the country”.