Healthy, Cheerful IGP Returns From London Visit

SEPANG, Feb 2 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ismail Omar returned Thursday after a five-day visit to London, quashing rumours of his death in the British capital. A healthy and cheerful Ismail exchanged greetings and shook hands with a group of reporters who had waited for him at the VIP Lounge of the KL International Airport near here. He had flown in by a Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight at about 8 am. "Nothing happened to me. I am thankful to be home," he told the newsmen. Ismail was greeted by Deputy IGP Khalid Abu Bakar and several other senior police officers. The Royal Malaysian Police issued a statement on Monday dismissing rumours that Ismail had died in London after the dissemination of such a message on the Facebook social utility and via SMS. Ismail said he hoped that there would be no more attempts to raise slander against him, adding that they would not benefit anyone. He said he gained much experience on policing during the London visit which he can share with the Malaysian police. He held discussions with the cosmopolitan police in London, visited several police exhibitions, viewed the preparations for the London Olympic Games and had a look at sophisticated equipment used by the British police, he said. "It was a good opportunity to widen one's experience," he said. Meanwhile, Khalid said the police have gathered information from two people, one in Penang and the other in Ipoh (north Malaysia), on the dissemination of the rumours. "I cannot say anything more because the police are still tracing the source of the SMS," he said, adding that the duo were not arrested. -- BERNAMA