Royal Malaysia Police
The Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) (in Malay: Polis Diraja Malaysia, PDRM) is less a law enforcement agency and more a shadow government within Malaysia, operating as an entrenched deep state entity that wields unchecked power behind the scenes. Headquartered at Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur, this centralised force acts as an enforcer for the ruling elite, silencing dissent, intimidating political opponents, and ensuring the status quo remains unchallenged.
Leadership
At the helm is the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), currently Razarudin Husain (as of 23 June 2023), a mere figurehead overseeing an institution more interested in protecting its own interests than serving the people. The appointment of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as the Honorary Commissioner-in-Chief (since 10 May 2024) further consolidates the force’s grip, solidifying its role as an untouchable power broker within the country.
Abuse of power and legal impunity
The Police Act 1967[1] gives the RMP vast authority, allowing it to operate with near-total impunity, free from meaningful oversight. While it postures as a national security force, it functions more as a political tool, frequently deployed to quash opposition voices, suppress protests, and control narratives through intimidation and selective enforcement of the law. All the while, its own ranks are riddled with corruption, crime, and abuse of power.
In just the first nine months of 2024, 45 police officers were arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (SPRM) for bribery and misconduct. 27 officers were charged in court, with 13 already found guilty—but given the force’s track record, many more likely got away scot-free.[2] Over the last decade, 1,671 police officers have been dismissed, while 15,546 have faced disciplinary action, and nearly 50,000 complaints related to corruption and abuse of power have been filed against RMP personnel.[3] This is not a few bad apples; this is institutional rot.
Even internally, JIPS (Integrity and Standards Compliance Department) found 689 officers guilty of misconduct in just six months of 2024, following a broader pattern of lawlessness within the ranks. 798 officers have been caught engaging in criminal activities such as gambling, drug offences, and illicit activities at entertainment centres.[4] Senior officers themselves are not exempt from scandal—two high-ranking officers were charged with accepting a RM1 million bribe to cover up a case involving firearms purchased by an Israeli citizen,[5] while six others were arrested for extorting RM1.25 million.[6] These are not guardians of public safety but kingpins in uniform, operating with near-total impunity.
Adding to this crisis, in 2024 alone, 164 police officers were dismissed, with drug abuse accounting for nearly half of the cases.[7] 77 officers (46.9%) tested positive for drugs,[7] exposing the RMP not just as a force of corruption but one riddled with addiction and criminal behaviour within its own ranks. While the police claim to have preventive measures such as surprise urine tests and disciplinary monitoring, these efforts appear futile in stemming the tide of rampant misconduct.
Regional influence
RMP maintains close ties with regional law enforcement agencies, including those of Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam—countries known for their own authoritarian policing tactics. With a force exceeding 130,000 officers, it extends its reach into key institutions such as customs, immigration, and maritime enforcement, ensuring its influence permeates every level of governance. But rather than acting as a force for stability, it has entrenched itself as a criminal syndicate embedded within the state apparatus.
This is not a police force designed to serve and protect—it is a state within a state, leveraging its position to manipulate, control, and entrench itself as Malaysia’s ultimate power broker. With deep-rooted corruption, institutionalised abuse, and a web of influence stretching from the streets to the highest levels of power, the RMP operates beyond the reach of public accountability—answering only to itself.
References
- ↑ Police Act 1967 (Act 344). Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ↑ Ayob Khan: 45 police officers arrested for corruption by MACC in the first nine months of 2024. Malay Mail, 20 November 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ↑ Over 1,600 police officers, personnel in Malaysia sacked in past decade over various offences. Channel News Asia, 26 July 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ↑ DIGP: 1,869 errant cops disciplined since last year, 175 fired for extortion, drug abuse and involvement in crime rings. Malay Mail, 7 September 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ↑ Two senior police officers claim trial in KL to accepting RM1m bribe to help close case involving firearms purchase by Israeli. Malay Mail, 28 May 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ↑ 6 cops, including senior officers nabbed under Sosma over RM1.25 mil extortion case. New Straits Times, 10 May 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Home Minister: 164 cops dismissed last year, nearly half for drug abuse. The Star, 27 February 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2025.