Ayob undecided on entering politics after receiving overtures

Former deputy inspector-general of police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay has received overtures to enter politics, though he has yet to decide on these offers.

Ayob, who retired from the force on July 26, said his main consideration was whether joining politics would allow him to initiate change or if he would have to toe the party line.

“If I must only go with the flow, then I’m better off staying out of politics. Although there are some limitations where I am now, I can still initiate change,” he said, according to Bernama.

Ayob did not disclose which political parties approached him.

However, opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin’s Wawasan has attracted one of Ayob’s former colleagues, ex-Bukit Aman internal security director Hazani Ghazali, who was appointed to the party’s central leadership.

Former Melaka deputy police chief Razali Abu Samah is also a member of Wawasan and was elected Sikamat assemblyman in the Negeri Sembilan polls earlier this month. He was subsequently appointed state tourism executive councillor.

Ayob, who served 35 years in the police force, said efforts to combat corruption and bolster integrity demanded strong political will from the top leadership of political parties.

These figures should lead by example by refusing to compromise on any form of graft, he added.

Ayob said tolerating or covering up the wrongdoing of officers and personnel only encouraged more wrongdoing, and that no one should be protected from the law, regardless of rank or position.

“If we don’t admit the problems we have in our enforcement agencies, we’re headed for destruction. We would be regressing, not progressing,” he said.