Hidden hands?

PETALING JAYA: Former Special Branch deputy director DCP Abdul Hamid Bador alleged today that "hidden hands" in high places are at work to bury discrepancies that have arisen in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) issue.
He also alleged that certain quarters were also working to keep three individuals sought by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over its 1MDB probe, in hiding.
In a media release issued on Saturday, the MACC said it was calling on SRC International Sdn Bhd managing director Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil and director Datuk Suboh Md Yassin, as well as businessman Low Taek Jho aka Jho Low to assist its investigations.
MACC Investigations Director Datuk Azam Baki said the three men were required to show up at the MACC's Special Operations Division at Menara Prisma in Putrajaya as soon as possible.
Abdul Hamid, who was seconded to the Prime Minister's Department last week, told a press conference today the three individuals sought by MACC were no longer in the country.
He alleged they had fled at the height of the 1MDB issue two months ago, adding that one of them is believed to be currently in New Zealand.
Abdul Hamid also criticised the arrest of MACC officers undertaking the 1MDB probe by police.
"They are government servants and should be respected. They are not terrorists or hardcore criminals. Why were they subjected to such treatment and why the need to arrest them? Is this the way a civilised and developing country treats its civil servants?" he asked.
Abdul Hamid believes his straightforward and firm stand on calling for comprehensive investigations into 1MDB had led to his abrupt secondment to the PM's Department as deputy head of the Security and Transnational Crimes Unit, which he claimed was created just before he received his order to move.
Abdul Hamid claimed he had been victimised by powerful people who are protecting high-level government officials as he had "made his stand on matters" he was entrusted with as a Special Branch officer.
"I am not here to seek fame or publicity, neither am I here to satisfy my ego as a result of my transfer, but wish to have every Malaysian of all walks of life to know the truth," said Abdul Hamid, adding that the prime minister should explain the truth to the people on the ongoing issues in the country.
"I am a professional intelligence officer who is merely carrying out my duties.We from the Special Branch, do not twist truths but reveal facts as they are," he added.
"They can punish me but not 30 million Malaysians in the country." he said, adding that he would reveal more to the media in future if the need arises.
Meanwhile, he also divulged that he had been ordered to meet former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to persuade him to stop his verbal attacks on Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
For the past three or four years, I was ordered to meet him to get his views and to get his agreement to not do something … I met Mahathir and he initially agreed that he would not attack the prime minister openly," he said.
"He is not senile ... he is still sharp," he said, adding that Dr Mahathir has since attacked the PM openly as he is unhappy with how the government was running things.