Guantanamo Bay mission, Ulu Tiram attack among defining moments with outgoing IGP, says home minister

New Straits Times

7 hours ago

KUALA LUMPUR: Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail reflected on two of the most defining moments in his collaboration with outgoing Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Razarudin Husain — the repatriation of two Malaysians detained at Guantanamo Bay and the deadly attack on the Ulu Tiram police station in Johor.
Speaking at the handing-over of duties and farewell ceremony for Razarudin at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) today, Saifuddin said he was grateful to have worked with both Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, Malaysia's 13th IGP, and Razarudin, the 14th IGP.
"There are certainly many moments in the past two years, but among the most significant was when the cabinet decided that two Malaysians held at Guantanamo Bay must be brought home. That was the directive," he said in his speech.
"In September 2023, I went there with Razarudin. Before that, we had to meet with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency — it was a huge task.
"But I felt at ease because I had an IGP who was competent and knew his responsibilities well. That made half the burden lighter. Alhamdulillah, both Malaysians were successfully brought back," he said, also recalling the tense hours following the attack on the Ulu Tiram police station in May 2024.
He said the prime minister, who was overseas at the time, contacted him to ask whether the incident involved terrorist elements.
"Tan Sri (Razarudin) was calm and immediately went to the scene himself, even before I was flown in for the briefing," he said, adding that it was then when he learned the term "lone wolf".
Saifuddin said in such crises, leadership must be calm, analytical and able to present a convincing narrative.
"We managed that narrative well," he said, praising Razarudin for his calm demeanor, professionalism and extraordinary work ethic.
"One unique thing about him — if I sent him a message at 2.01am, he would reply by 2.05am. If I texted at 3.30pm, the reply came at 3.33pm. That's the kind of responsiveness that builds strong working chemistry," he said.
The ceremony also marked the official appointment of Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail as Malaysia's 15th inspector-general of police in succeeding Razarudin.