Speaking to media outside the Shah Alam district police headquarters after lodging his report, Meru assemblyman Mohd Fakhrulrazi Mokhtar said the recording was evidence of a plot by Hamzah to interfere in the appointments.

“I am making this report to urge PDRM to investigate this matter and take further and appropriate action against the minister over his admission.

“He has tarnished the credibility of the police force. It is also clearly an abuse of power to interfere in the internal affairs of the police.”

At a press conference yesterday, Hamzah insisted he had not done anything wrong when discussing promotions and role change in the force, and asserted that the conversation, which was reported on a number of blogs recently, took place “sometime last year”.

Hamzah’s comments were then cited in another press conference by outgoing inspector-general of police Abdul Hamid Bador yesterday, in which he described the former’s interference in police matters as the reason for divided camps within the force.

“A minister should not interrupt the police’s daily affairs. They can only play the role of giving direction, guidance or mandate in relation to that. They cannot decide who becomes deputy director or police chief.”