First Sikh commissioner to take over as KL police chief tomorrow – THE SUN

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| The Sun | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 14 March  2016 | Asia Samachar |
Amar Singh at pinning the rank ceremony on 19 Feb 2016. Amar, who is now Kuala Lumpur chief police officer, took on the rank of a police commissioner, a first for a Sikh cop in Malaysian police history. In the next row is Baljeet Singh who was promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) - PHOTO / PDRM
Amar Singh at pinning the rank ceremony on 19 Feb 2016. Amar, who is now Kuala Lumpur chief police officer, took on the rank of a police commissioner, a first for a Sikh cop in Malaysian police history. In the next row is Baljeet Singh who was promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) – PHOTO / PDRM

By Charles Ramendran

It will be a proud moment for the Sikh community who are known for their fearlessness and military prowess when new Kuala Lumpur police chief Commissioner Datuk Amar Singh Ishar Singh (pix) takes over as the city’s top cop tomorrow.

His forefathers would be pleased to see the third generation cop – his father and grandfather were also cops during British rule – rise to assume his new post as the first Sikh to achieve the highest rank of commissioner.

Amar, who was former Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief for several years before being promoted and transferred to Bukit Aman as deputy CID director, returns tomorrow to lead his personnel in grounds he is familiar with.

“It sure is an advantage in executing my duties as just years ago I was deputy police chief in KL and am familiar with things here. My vision is to ‘go back to the basics’ in policing. Undoubtedly, modern technology is nice to have and has helped in solving crimes but nothing beats the rules of basic policing such as quality investigations.

“My vision is also to have a service orientated metropolitan force with high work ethics with ‘no wrong door’ system. The public will be served and should not be given the runaround,” he told theSun.

Amar, who is a qualified lawyer and has a string of academic degrees in various disciplines including Islamic and Syariah Law, said he was grateful to Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar for the promotion.

“The IGP had said in the past that the police force is colour-blind when executing its duties. I wish to add that he has also proven that the rule also applies to promotions in the force.

“Being an Indian, I am promoted and this is proof that there is a bright future for the non-Bumiputera in the police and it is possible for them to grow in rank if they are tenacious to work ethics,” he said.

Before Amar, the highest ranking Sikh police officer was Datuk Santokh Singh who held the rank of assistant commissioner and was Selangor police chief decades ago.

Amar, who is known to be an approachable but no-nonsense officer, will attend an official handover of duties ceremony at 7.30am at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters tomorrow. – The Sun (14 March 2016)

The Sun is a Malaysian-based newspaper. The original story can be read here.

 

[ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs in Southeast Asia and surrounding countries. We have a Facebook page, do give it a LIKE. Follow us on Twitter. Visit our website: www.asiasamachar.com]

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4 COMMENTS

  1. I would like to congrats the newly appointed chief police officer and would like to state something personal here,personally I think our nation will move forward for a new phase of success if we stop to differentiate people with races and religions,its not the ‘sikh community’ to be proud its Malaysian should be proud for this individual achievement.Media should seriously play its part for our humans unity.One world One human.Thank You.

  2. FAO: Mr. Charles Ramendran

    Dear Charles,
    I refer to your article, First Sikh commissioner to take over as KL police chief tomorrow; Posted on 13 March 2016 – 04:49pm; Last updated on 13 March 2016 – 06:23pm.
    I humbly propose you check on the facts stated therein. To my knowledge the highest ranking Sikh police officer in the Royal Malaysian Police Force till date was, Dershan Singh A/L Pertab Singh KMN,ADK, PJK who was Senior Assistant Commissioner 1 (SAC 1),retired as Deputy Director CID, Bukit Aman; in 1979 or 1980.

    During that time, the rank of SAC was divided into two ranks of SAC 1 and SAC 2. SAC 1 being the senior rank. Many Sikh officers made it to the rank of SAC 2 and that includes Santokh Singh, unlike mentioned in your article.

    I include a copy of Dershan Singh’s obituary as it appeared in the New Straits Times on Aug 20th 1993, complete with his photograph in uniform, for your reference.

    “Giving credit where credit is due is a very rewarding habit to form. Its rewards are inestimable.” -Loretta Young
    Best Regards,
    Joginder Singh Shergill

  3. Congratulations to YB Datuk Amar Singh Ji on his appointment as KL City Police Chief and Baljeet Singh Ji on his promotion to the post of ACP. They make the Sikh community proud as they are bringing back the old glory of previous Sikh Police professionals.

    Sikhs have excelled in many countries and their expertise recognized. Canadian Government has four Sikh Cabinet Members among others in public positions, Australia has many Sikhs in high public posts the latest being the appointment of Singapore-born Harinder Kaur Sidhu as its High Commissioner to India.
    Singapore is also a leading in recognition of expertise and rewarding without looking at the ethnic background of the person and there are many Sikhs among them. Malaysia is not far behind as there are several Sikhs holding senior positions in civil service.
    Congratulations to all and these are out role models for Sikh youths to emulate.

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