IGP jokes about 'I am a cop' placards after Warisan cries foul

Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador offered a tongue-in-cheek response to Warisan's insistence that Special Branch personnel must identify themselves when attending press conferences.

The top cop quipped that he might ask his personnel to brandish placards identifying themselves at such events.

"Maybe I will get my men to carry placards identifying themselves as police," he was quoted as saying by theSun when asked about Warisan's condition.

Last Saturday, it was reported that Warisan was barring the SB from its events. Abdul Hamid subsequently said such a move would be against the law.

Warisan vice-president Junz Wong later clarified that the party took issue with SB personnel pretending to be journalists.

The Sabah agriculture and food Industries minister said the party would have no qualms if the SB personnel identified themselves.

"We can't have people coming to an event claiming that they are journalists. It will be misleading.

"For this reason, even if they are police officials, it would be better to make themselves known, instead of acting as if they are members of the media,” he had added.

Wong also revealed that genuine media practitioners at times do not have space to sit at allotted tables during functions, as their places have been taken up by SB personnel.

Abdul Hamid stressed that it was a non-issue and a police presence at press conferences can help if the situation gets heated.

Prior to the 14th general election, the then opposition had often complained about the use of the Special Branch to monitor political activities.