GEORGE TOWN: A leading criminologist has expressed concern that the handling of a recent case involving a police station chief — caught using drugs while partying at an entertainment venue in Ampang Jaya last week — sends a mixed message to the public.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said that the officer, who was serving at a station under the Kuala Lumpur police contingent, received transfer orders to the Penang police contingent (IPK Penang) on the very day of his arrest.

Datuk Dr P. Sundramoorthy said that, on one hand, the police appeared to have acted swiftly by transferring the officer and announcing that disciplinary proceedings would follow.

On the other hand, he said, many members of the public were likely to perceive the transfer — rather than a suspension or immediate dismissal — as an inadequate response, particularly given the serious nature of the misconduct.

“The public may interpret this as the police shielding their own, especially since the officer was not suspended but merely relocated,” he told the New Straits Times.

“This could undermine public trust in law enforcement, as it may appear that rank or internal connections provide officers with immunity from real consequences.”

Sundramoorthy said there was a clear disparity between public expectations — such as strict disciplinary action or dismissal — and the actual response, which involved a transfer and pending investigation.

He said that the case being referred to the Integrity and Standards Compliance Department (JIPS) suggested that internal procedures and due process were being followed.

“This is crucial for safeguarding the rights of civil servants. However, unless the disciplinary outcome is fair, transparent, and proportionate, the message conveyed may be that even serious misconduct does not result in job loss.

“All civil servants, including police officers, are entitled to a fair investigation and the opportunity to defend themselves,” he added.

Sundramoorthy suggested that a temporary suspension pending investigation would have been a firmer interim measure than a transfer alone, sending a stronger signal that such behaviour is entirely unacceptable, even before the conclusion of the investigation.

He said that the current approach risks being seen as lenient, which could erode public confidence.

“In order to restore and maintain credibility, the police must ensure that the investigation’s findings are transparent, and that — if misconduct is confirmed — appropriate disciplinary measures, including possible dismissal, are enforced,” he said.

Meanwhile, state police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad told the NST that the officer in question had yet to report for duty in Penang.

This article first appeared on NST.