He began his service with the police force in Malaya, serving in the Kuala Lumpur Traffic Branch and as Officer in Charge of Police District for Teluk Intan, Kinta and Tronoh, before serving as Assistant Superintendent with the Sikh contingent of the Straits Settlements.
In 1945 he served with the British Military Administration with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel during the campaign against the MPAJA, and was later appointed Chief Police Officer of Johor in 1955. He was seconded to the Prime Minister's Department as Acting Deputy Secretary of Security and Intelligence in 1958 and was promoted to Deputy Commissioner of Police on 2 June 1958.
On 18 September 1958 he was appointed Commissioner of Police of the Federation of Malaya, serving until 1966, leading the force that later became the Royal Malaysia Police.
