Tun Mohammed Hanif bin Omar (Jawi: محمد حنيف بن عمر; 16 January 1939 – 20 April 2024) was a Malaysian police officer who served as the 4th Inspector-General of Royal Malaysia Police from June 1974 to January 1994. Assuming office at the age of 35, he was the youngest police officer appointed to the top post. He was also the longest-serving Inspector General of Police for 20 years.
Mohammed Hanif Omar | |
---|---|
محمد حنيف عمر | |
4th Inspector-General of Police (Malaysia) | |
In office 8 June 1974 – 15 January 1994 | |
Monarchs | Abdul Halim Yahya Petra Ahmad Shah Iskandar Azlan Shah |
Minister | Ghazali Shafie Musa Hitam Mahathir Mohamad |
Preceded by | Abdul Rahman Hashim |
Succeeded by | Abdul Rahim Mohd Noor |
Personal details | |
Born | Teluk Intan, Perak, Federated Malay States, British Malaya (now Malaysia) | 16 January 1939
Died | 20 April 2024 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia | (aged 85)
Resting place | Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery, Kuala Lumpur |
Spouse | Hamidah Abdul Hamid |
Children | 5 |
Alma mater | University of Buckingham University of Malaya, Singapore |
Born in Teluk Intan, Perak on 16 January 1939, Hanif Omar became the Malacca Police Chief on 7 September 1970 and later the Selangor Police Chief on 6 December 1971. He was appointed the Deputy Inspector General of Police on 1 February 1973.
Hanif died on 20 April 2024, at the age of 85. He was buried next to his son at Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery in Kuala Lumpur.
Police career
- Central Malacca Investigating Officer – April 1960
- Assistant Jasin District Police Chief, Malacca – 20 November 1960
- Assistant Officer in Charge of Criminal Investigation (South) Pahang – 2 December 1960
- Special Branch Staff Officer, Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur – 16 January 1962
- Selangor Special Branch Staff Officer – 8 August 1966
- Ipoh District Police Chief, Perak – 20 July 1967
- Chief of Staff (Police) of the National Operations Council – 18 May 1969
- Head of Selangor Special Branch – 20 December 1969
- Malacca Police Chief – 7 September 1970
- Selangor Police Chief – 6 December 1971
- Director of Special Branch – 31 January 1973
- Deputy Inspector General of Police – 1 February 1973
- Inspector General of Police – from 8 June 1974 to 15 January 1994
During his tenure as Inspector General of Police, he founded the elite counterterrorist unit, Special Actions Unit on 1 January 1975. He also was in command of rescue operations in the 1975 AIA building hostage crisis in August 1975. In addition, he also renamed Bluff Road Police Station to Royal Malaysia Police Headquarters, Bukit Aman on 25 March 1975. On 8 June 1976, Hanif announced all police recruits would serve in Police Field Force before being assigned to other units. This was to ensure that all young policemen would be able to tackle any emergency situation once they were equipped with jungle training. Hanif also directed all state police chiefs to review security, particularly fire prevention measures in all highrise building throughout nationwide on 28 November 1992.
Honours
Honours of Malaysia
- Malaysia :
- Officer of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (KMN) (1970)
- Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (PMN) – Tan Sri (1976)
- Grand Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (SSM) – Tun (1993)
- Perak :
- Recipient of the Distinguished Conduct Medal (PPT) (1969)
- Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Perak State Crown (SPMP) – Dato' Seri (1974)
- Knight Grand Commander of the Order of Taming Sari (SPTS) – Dato' Seri Panglima (1978)
- Grand Knight of the Azlanii Royal Family Order (DSA) – Dato' Seri (2009)
- Ordinary Class of the Perak Family Order of Sultan Nazrin Shah (SPSN) – Dato' Seri DiRaja (2016)
- Johor :
- Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Johor (SPMJ) – Dato' (1980)
- Pahang :
- Grand Knight of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (SIMP) – formerly Dato', now Dato' Indera (1981)
- Kedah :
- Knight Commander of the Order of Loyalty to Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah (DHMS) – Dato' Paduka (1990)
- Selangor :
- Knight Grand Companion of the Order of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah (SSSA) – Dato' Seri (1992)
- Negeri Sembilan :
- Knight Grand Commander of the Order of Loyalty to Negeri Sembilan (SPNS) – Dato' Seri Utama (1992)
- Sarawak :
- Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak (DA) – Datuk Amar (1993)
Foreign Honours
- Singapore :
- Recipient of the Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (DUBC) (1993)