KUCHING: Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata paid an official working visit to the Kuching District Police Headquarters (IPD) this afternoon (Sept 23), marking the final stop in his tour of all IPDs in the state ahead of his retirement on Sept 26.
The 60-year-old was welcomed by Kuching police chief ACP Alexson Naga Chabu, his deputy Supt Merbin Lisa, and senior officers from the Sarawak Contingent Police Headquarters (IPK).
Mancha received a ceremonial salute and inspected a 55-personnel guard of honour mounted by Kuching IPD before proceeding to a closed-door meeting.
Appointed as Sarawak’s first Iban police commissioner in 2023, Mancha has served with the force for over three decades.
He began his career in Perak, serving in the elite VAT69 special forces team, before being promoted to Deputy Commander and later Commander of the Sabah General Operations Force (GOF) Brigade.
In 2021, he was transferred to Sarawak and appointed Commander of the Sarawak GOF Brigade before becoming Deputy Sarawak Police Commissioner in the same year until June 2023.
He was later appointed Sarawak Police Commissioner in Nov 2023 until now.
Mancha will be officially handing over the duties of Sarawak Police Commissioner to Datuk Mohamad Zainal Abdullah, a Lawas native and senior officer from Bukit Aman’s Criminal Investigation Department (Investigation/Legal), who has been appointed as the incoming commissioner.
The handover ceremony is expected to take place this week.
At 47, Mohamad Zainal will become the youngest officer ever to be appointed as Sarawak Police Commissioner.
He brings with him more than 25 years of experience in Peninsular Malaysia, having served as Principal Assistant Director of D5 (Prosecution/Legal) at JSJ Bukit Aman, Dang Wangi District Police Chief, and Perak Tengah District Police Chief.
