Igp Defends Controversial Turkey Trip

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Inspector-General of Police Fuzi Harun regrets the sensational reports over the trip to Turkey.PETALING JAYA: The nation’s top cop today played down the controversy surrounding the sponsorship of a working trip to Turkey by a gaming firm, saying “offers” were made annually to the force by the Malaysian Totalisator Board
“Every year, they (the board) makes us an offer. This is because we help them curb the activities of bookies, among others,” Inspector-General of Police Fuzi Harun told Sinar Harian
In expressing regret over recent reports, Fuzi said that certain quarters had sensationalised the role played by the gambling firm, Da Ma Cai, adding that these reports were baseless
He also insisted that the trip was part of the police official duties
“I do not know the motive of those who reported this issue
“We were there to work,” the Malay daily quoted him as saying
Fuzi went on to state that those who had doubts over the matter should refer it to the board instead of attacking the force
Sarawak Report published pictures of Fuzi and senior police officers on their trip
The whistleblower site said 16 senior officers had joined the trip, spending over RM300,000 on business class flights and five-star hotel accommodation
It was reported that the delegation was in Turkey to learn about policing online gambling

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng has since said that his ministry did not pay for the trip, although Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said it was funded by the board, which is a statutory board under the finance ministry. -FMT

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