Anwar defends appointment of Bukit Aman CID chief Kumar, says opposition’s ridicule misplaced and ethnicity no barrier

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has defended the appointment of Datuk Seri M. Kumar as director of Bukit Aman’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID), following Opposition criticism over his ethnicity.

According to Free Malaysia Today, Anwar emphasised that ethnicity should never be a barrier for capable individuals to hold senior government posts.

“It is not an issue for me. Anyone who can do the job is eligible for it,” he said during the Finance Ministry’s monthly assembly.

He also highlighted that the nation’s police leadership remains largely Malay, including the inspector-general of police (IGP), his deputy, and several other departmental directors.

Earlier this month, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s Badrul Hisham Shaharin — better known as Che’gubard — took a swipe at Kumar’s appointment, linking it to the “Malaysian Malaysia” concept often used to attack DAP. He further claimed that Malaysia could one day have a non-Bumiputera IGP, chief justice, or chief of Defence Forces, citing the appointments of Kumar and Armed Forces Lieutenant-General Datuk Johnny Lim.

Kumar officially took charge of the federal CID on August 8, succeeding acting director Datuk Fadil Marsus.

The 56-year-old, who joined the police force in December 1991 as an Inspector, has previously served as Johor deputy police chief, Johor CID deputy chief, Johor Baru South deputy district police chief, and Mersing district police chief.