Ex-cop sworn in as sixth Kuching North Datuk Bandar

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OVER TO YOU: Abang Abdul Wahap receives his letter of appointment from Abang Atei (right).

KUCHING: Former state police deputy commissioner Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai was yesterday sworn in as the sixth Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) commissioner, succeeding Abang Atei Abang Medaan.

The retired police veteran, who served the police force for 37 years, took his oath of office in front of Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud. Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, Housing and Urban Development Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and State Secretary Datuk Amar Morshidi Ghani were among the notable attendees at the swearing-in ceremony which was held at the DBKU headquarters.

Others present include Land Development Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing, Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Datin Fatimah Abdullah, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman, DBKU director Onn Abdullah and Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor James Chan.

Highlights of the ceremony included the handing of the commissioner’s ‘Chain of Office’ to Abdul Wahap by Taib and the handing-over of duties by Abang Atei.

DBKU’s past commissioner were Datu Dr Yussoff Hanifah from 1988 to 1994, Datuk Awang Ehsan Joini (1995-2000), Madehi Kolek (2001-2004), Datuk Abdul Hamid Mohd Yusoff (2005-2007) and Abang Atei (2007-2011).

Abdul Wahap served as state deputy police commissioner from 2002 to 2005.

His last post with the police was as director of Bukit Aman’s Narcotics Crime Investigation Department. He retired in 2007.

Born on May 31, 1951, Abdul Wahap is the eldest of nine siblings. He received his early education at SK Rakyat Haji Bolhassan before continuing his secondary education at SMK St Thomas here.

After completing Form 5, he worked as a teacher before becoming a Probationary Inspector in 1970.

“It was then that he found his niche for policing. His love for the job carried him for 37 years, from 1970 to 2007,” stated a press release which was handed to the media.

It also mentioned that  Abdul Wahap received his Advance Diploma in Policing Science at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in 1989, and Bachelor in Law (Honours) from Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) in 1994. In 2007, he was awarded the ‘Panglima Gagah Pasukan Police’ (PGPP), the highest award in the Malaysian Police force.

Married to Datin Dayang Horiah Datuk Abang Zainuddin on Sept 9, 1979, Abdul Wahap has three daughters and a son.

OFFICIAL: Taib putting the commissioner’s chain of office on Abang Abdul Wahap.