Wan Junaidi agreeable that Sarawakian be CP

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Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar

Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar

KUCHING: Deputy Home Minister Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar agrees with the call by Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) that the post of Sarawak Police Commissioner should be reserved for a Sarawakian.

“Personally, I’m quite agreeable that the post of Sarawak police commissioner is held by a Sarawakian. In fact, I have been looking into this matter since becoming a deputy home minister, long before SUPP made this call,” Wan Junaidi told The Borneo Post yesterday.

In fact, Wan Junaidi, who is also Santubong MP, also agreed that the federal government departments and agencies in Sarawak, especially those under the Home Ministry, be headed by Sarawakians. Wan Junaidi said he had personally discussed the request for the post of Sarawak Police Commissioner to be given to a Sarawakian with Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and had looked at the order of seniority in the police force.

“The rank required for a state police commissioner is very high, that is senior deputy commissioner of police, but we don’t have Sarawakians who are at that level of seniority or a rank below to be elevated to the position at the moment.”

He said currently, the only Sarawakian police officer with a senior rank is federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Wira Mortadza Nazarene with the rank of commissioner of police.

“Datuk Wira Mortadza’s rank is higher than senior deputy commissioner of police so he cannot be downgraded to be a state police commissioner.” Mortadza was formerly Sarawak state police commissioner before being promoted. Wan Junaidi said it was for this reason that a Sarawakian was not given the post of Sarawak Police Commissioner at the moment. SUPP Pelawan secretary Michael Tiang, who made the call, explained that this should be like the post of Sarawak High Court Chief Justice which is always held by a Sarawakian who is familiar and truly understands the local social culture and customs in Sarawak so as to make more appropriate judgement.

“Likewise, a Sarawakian police chief will be in a better position to advise Bukit Aman as to the local situations when exercising the police discretionary powers provided under the laws,” Tiang was quoted as saying.