Royal Malaysia Police

Pukimak Pulis Raja Di Malaysia

Polis dan Masyarakat Berpisah Tiada

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 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. 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.

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. 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, while six others were arrested for extorting RM1.25 million.

In 2024 alone, 164 police officers were dismissed, with 77 officers (46.9%) testing positive for drug abuse—making narcotics the single largest cause of termination. This highlights how corruption within RMP is not limited to bribery but extends to officers actively engaged in criminal behavior. 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. An internal inspection conducted on 3 March 2025 by ASP F.B.R. (Badge No. G18194) and a team from Cawangan Pemantuhan, JIPS, Bukit Aman, uncovered illicit contraband within the administration room of Balai Polis Bertam. The inspection, witnessed by L/Kpl U.H. (Badge No. RF/205581) from the Pencegahan Jenayah unit, revealed the presence of ten packs of John JDB brand cigarettes with grey packaging and a tax-free F1 stamp, stored inside a police locker. Upon questioning, SM RF/128425 A.A., the Chief of Police at Balai Polis Bertam, admitted ownership of the cigarettes, which were found locked inside his office drawer. Following the discovery, A.A. (Badge No. RF/128425), aged 53, residing at Kampung Sungai Kelat, Semerah, Batu Pahat, Johor, was detained under Section 28A KPJ. His cigarettes were confiscated as evidence, and he was ordered to provide a formal statement. The contraband was seized, documented, and signed off under police procedures for further investigation.

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. They are not guardians of public safety but kingpins in uniform, operating with near-total impunity. 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.