Claude Fenner

Sir Claude Harry Fenner (16 January 1916 − 15 May 1978) was the first Inspector-General of Police of Malaysia, serving from 18 September 1958 to 28 February 1966.

Background Fenner was born on 16 January 1916 in Fulham, United Kingdom and died on 15 May 1978 at Kenny Hill, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He was the son of Harry Fenner and Daisy Elizabeth Arnold. He was educated at Highgate School. He was parachuted into Malaya on a RAF 356 Squadron Liberator Snake on 23 August 1945, which then crashed in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan. By war's end he was a Lieutenant Colonel in charge of a guerrilla unit.

He continued to serve as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the British Military Administration during the disbandment of the Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army in 1945.

Rejoining the Colonial Police Force, he was awarded the Colonial Police Medal in 1950 and the Queen's Police Medal in 1957. He became Johor Police Chief in 1955. With the granting of independence to Malaysia, he became Commissioner of Police, Director of Police Affairs, and in 1963, became Inspector-General of Police, a position he retained during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation.

Police Force Development and Modernization Fenner's leadership era also emphasized welfare, he tried to improve the economy of the police force by making the Police Cooperative which had been created since 24 April 1928 as a cooperative that can carry out its functions more efficiently and effectively while also being able to help its members make loans and encourage them wisely. A new, more complete and perfect building was erected and officially opened on 10 January 1959. Before this, the Police Cooperative carried out its operations by boarding at the Bukit Aman Police Headquarters building.

In the early stages of his tenure as Commissioner of Police of Federation of Malaya in 1958, Fenner opened up the Cadet ASP scheme as an effort to create future senior police officers who are capable and can take over the administration of the force in the future. The scheme continued until 2006, when it was stopped by IGP Musa Hassan. Prospective applicants to the police force can now only apply to Police Constable and Probationary Inspector posts.

Retirement Fenner remained resident in Malaysia for the remainder of his life. He was special representative of the rubber growers association after his retirement from the Police. He was awarded honours by Malaysia in 1961, CMG in 1963, and KBE in 1965. He married Joan Margaret Fenner in 1941 and they had one daughter.

Foreign honours