With nearly three decades of service, AC Masagoes continues to lead from the front, shaping public transport security through operational leadership, mentorship and unwavering commitment to the Force.
By: Dhinesh Ravichandran
For Assistant Commissioner of Police (AC) Masagoes Idris Hussain, Commander of the Public Transport Security Command (TransCom), life has been shaped by duty, discipline and a steadfast commitment to serve. With close to 30 years in uniform, his story is one of resilience, responsibility and purpose.
Rooted in Resilience
AC Masagoes grew up in a one-income household where perseverance wasn't just preached; it was practised. His father, a postman who had lost his vision in one eye, continued working to support the family. His mother, a homemaker, believed deeply in the power of education and ensured her children did too. It was a home where hard work was normal, not noble. It was that very mindset that shaped him from an early age.
“I remember delivering my mum’s home-baked kueh to an Indian provision shop,” AC Masagoes shared. “It was a small task, but one that taught me what it meant to contribute to the family.”
Growing up in a humble household, he found joy and camaraderie playing football and cycling around the neighbourhood with friends. Those early days laid the foundation for his sense of duty and community.
Sportsman and Hardworking Scholar
At Victoria School, AC Masagoes was a true all-rounder. He played football, ran track and cross-country, and was eventually roped into the school's hockey team under rather unexpected circumstances. "I remembered a day in Sec 1 when I was late for school. I was sprinting across the field after entering through a hole in the school fence when the late Mr Soccelaraj caught me. He said he'd let me off, but only if I joined the hockey team," he shared. That decision, made in a split second, opened the door to a deeper commitment to sport and discipline. In 1991, he was named Victoria School’s Sportsman of the Year, an acknowledgement of his perseverance and hard work.
But he wasn’t just defined by sport. Determined to chart his own course, AC Masagoes pushed himself in the classroom as much as he did on the field, earning a place at Victoria Junior College and later, a Public Service Commission Scholarship.
Of the many public service paths available to him, policing stood out for its frontline nature, offering him the opportunity to make a difference on the ground, serve the community and stay close to his family.
Building a Career in Public Service
AC Masagoes joined the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in 1998, and over nearly three decades, he has held leadership roles in areas such as neighbourhood policing, divisional operations and national security.
In 2004, AC Masagoes began a one-year Master of Philosophy programme in Criminology at the University of Cambridge, under the Chevening Scholarship. Again, he found the time to hit the sporting pitch, becoming the only Asian player on the college football team at that time. “It was never just about football,” he recalls. “It was about being part of something bigger, building bonds and learning from others.”
In 2005, as Commanding Officer of Pasir Ris Neighbourhood Police Centre, he transformed community policing through an innovative Collective Leadership Model. His pioneering Leader Mentor Scheme paired junior officers with at-risk youths, supported by purpose-built recreational facilities including an e-games room and Futsal arena, creating meaningful connections within the community.
In 2016, he was appointed as Deputy Commander (Protective Security) at Woodlands and Tuas Checkpoints, coordinating and working closely with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and other Home Team Agencies to secure two of the world’s busiest land crossings. Managing over 900 officers, he masterfully strengthened security through rigorous drills, ensuring zero successful security intrusions or breaches while significantly boosting officer morale and organisational health scores.
His exceptional leadership as Deputy Commander of Clementi Police Division in 2018 culminated in the prestigious Best Land Division Award and outstanding results in the 2019 Organisation Health Survey.
In 2019, as Deputy Director at the Centre for Protective Security, he thoughtfully oversaw and skillfully managed the implementation of the Infrastructure Protection Act, establishing robust SOPs and investigation protocols that continue to safeguard Singapore's critical infrastructure today.
On 10 August 2022, then-Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police Masagoes assumed command of TransCom.
Leading TransCom Today
Today, as Commander of TransCom, AC Masagoes leads one of the SPF’s most public-facing units. Their mission? To ensure public safety and security on Singapore’s land transport network, which has a daily ridership of over seven million commuters across buses and trains.
As AC Masagoes explains: “TransCom officers project the professionalism of the SPF to millions of commuters every day. The way we carry ourselves reflects directly on the Force’s image and the public’s trust in us. That is a responsibility we take very seriously.”
A recent test of the officers came during the September 2024 East-West Line disruption, when a train derailment affected over 2.6 million commuters. TransCom officers under his watch were deployed to assist stranded commuters, manage crowds and maintain order amidst inclement weather throughout the six-day operation.
AC Masagoes leads from the front. Whether it’s conducting surprise checks at MRT stations to ensure good response times or having a candid chat with officers under his charge, he stays grounded, both literally and figuratively. He actively listens, hears out their concerns and looks out for their well-being. His core values, echoed as the unit’s ethos, are passed on to every new batch of officers: to be purpose-driven, team-focused, service-minded and caring towards one another.
By focusing on their professional growth and safety, he helps build the trust that families of Police National Service officers place in the Force.
A Legacy of Dedication
From being an all-round sportsman to commanding one of the SPF's most visible frontline units, AC Masagoes's journey is a testament to his lifelong commitment to service. “Whatever I've done, experienced or gone through has led to this moment in time,” he shared. “I'm able to do this job to the best of my abilities and to be able to galvanise everyone, despite their backgrounds, and bring everyone together as a unit to move forward as one.”
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