Mohammed Hanif Omar


Mohammed Hanif bin Omar 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.
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.

Police career

  • Central Malacca Investigating Officer – April 1960
  • Assistant Jasin District Police Chief, Malacca – 20 November 1960
  • Assistant Officer in Charge of Criminal Investigation 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 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.

Death and burial

Hanif died on 20 April 2024, at the age of 85. He was buried at Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery in Kuala Lumpur.

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

Foreign Honours