PM: POLICE TO GET HIGH-TECH BUILDING FOR SPECIAL ACTION UNIT, NEW STADIUM
PM lauds sacrifices cops make to maintain security and public order
THE government has approved two projects for the police in conjunction with the 210th Police Day Memorial Parade yesterday.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said these were a 35,000-capacity stadium at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) and a building for the Special Action Unit (UTK) in Semenyih.
“These two projects, brought by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as home minister, were approved by the government during a recent cabinet meeting.
“Hopefully, the new stadium in Pulapol will provide more comfort and bring more success to the police football team.
“Secondly, the cabinet also approved a new, high-tech UTK building in Semenyih,” he said, adding the UTK had been operating inside an old building at the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman.
Speaking at Pulapol yesterday, Najib also announced that the government would donate RM3 million to Tabung Amanah Warisan Polis launched yesterday to honour personnel who had left the service.
Present were Najib’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Zahid, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed, InspectorGeneral of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and former IGP Tun Hanif Omar.
Najib also condemned “irresponsible” groups who belittled the force by making “unreasonable allegations” against them.
Najib said such actions were dishonourable, improper and immoral, especially if based on objectives influenced by narrow political ideology.
“I am sad that there are some irresponsible parties trying to belittle the role and contributions of the police, tarnishing their image with unreasonable allegations. I stand here to say that the government will stand behind the police.
“Nobody can deny (and) history has shown that the police have played a huge role and contributed a lot to the nation.
“They are among the thousands of officers who are always on the front line, brave and willing to sacrifice, even when their lives are at stake, to maintain security and public order.”
He said Malaysia’s successes and recognitions would not have been possible without the peace and prosperity the country enjoyed, both due to the role played by the police force.
Among others, he cited the launch of the world’s first digital economic hub outside of China, the Digital Free Trade Zone, and the Saudi Arabian Oil Company’s US$7 billion (RM30.9 billion) investment for a 50 per cent stake in Petroliam Nasional Bhd’s Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development project.
“All these would not have been successfully realised without making security and peace fundamental issues, which are among the major prerequisites for national development and prosperity.”
He said the government realised that challenges faced by the police, such as white-collar crime involving the abuse of sophisticated computerised technology, cross-border organised crime and cybercrime, were becoming more complex.
“Thus, I believe that the police, as a dynamic and progressive enforcement organisation, must carry out transformation, move in line with current demands, environmental changes and increasing public expectations.”
Earlier, Najib inspected a guard of honour accompanied by Khalid and watched a parade by 1,200 police personnel.
He then launched the Voluntary Smartphone Patrol app, which allows a potential 11 million smartphone users in the country to send real-time photos or videos of crimes, accidents and natural disasters.
Najib also launched a coffeetable book titled F Team: Only the Brave about the exploits of the Special Branch’s F Team, which took down the underground network of the Malayan Communist Party during the Malayan Emergency.
In George Town, hundreds of policemen of various ranks and file celebrated the 210th Police Day at the state police headquarters yesterday, beginning with a marchpast to welcome state Deputy Police Chief Datuk Roslee Chik.
Roslee addressed the officers and read out a speech by the inspector-general of police.
Assistant Superintendent Akmal Yahaya, Sergeant Major Ismail Hashim, Corporal Mohd Rusli Abass, Corporal Wan Ahmad Nor Firman Abdul Hamed, Syaliza Saad and Nor Amalina Abd Majid were awarded police integrity awards.
M. Muthu Kumar received the Penang Police Chief Award in the auxiliary police category while Nah Boon Leng, Tan Thean Keng, Gooi Soon Chye, Cheng Chin Chuan and Hing Moh York received awards in the community policing category.
Present was state Criminal Investigation Department chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Zainol Samah.
In Kuantan, at the Pahang police headquarters in Jalan Gambut, appreciation letters were presented to 38 individuals for their contribution to the force.
State Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department chief Datuk Jamaludin Kudin handed the letters to 31 policemen and seven members of the public, including a representative from a newspaper organisation.
Earlier, Jamaludin inspected a marching parade and delivered Khalid’s mandate.
In Ipoh, some 1,000 people comprising police officers, rank and file, cadets, retired officers, Police Family Association members, non-governmental organisation representatives and members of the public attended the celebration at the Perak police headquarters yesterday.
State CID chief Datuk Gan Tian Kee officiated the event and delivered Khalid’s speech.
The event saw 177 members of the police force and the public, including 27 members of the media, receive certificates of appreciation from Gan.
Sub-Inspector Marzukhi Harun of the Selama district headquarters (supervision), Corporal/Support Zainudin Mohd Rashid from the Tapah district headquarters (support group/ Orang Asli) and Mohd Naim Che Abdul Aziz from the state contingent headquarters’ Integrity and Standard Compliance Department (General Officer) received the Police Integrity Award.
Present were Perak Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department chief Senior Assistant Commissioner T. Selven and Perak Management Department head Assistant Commissioner Shaharon Anuar Abdul Latif.