Retired cops willing to volunteer to help fight crime

BESUT: Former policemen and officers are willing to volunteer to help fight crime including drug abuse among the public.

The president of the Malaysian Ex-Policemen’s Association (PBPM), Hussin Awang Ngah said the association comprised 140,000 retired policemen who were skilled as well as experienced in law enforcement and were capable of providing assistance if given the chance.

He said their services included giving talks to the public, particularly the youth, as well as holding character-building and patriotic activities.

“We are ready to guide students if the Ministry of Education gives the permission for ex-policemen in each state to volunteer their services at any time,” he said in a special interview following his appointment as the new PBPM president, replacing Professor Datuk Dr Hassan Yusoff, effective from Sunday.

According to Hussin, in the effort to strengthen the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), the association was also prepared to become its point of reference. Meanwhile, he said, to help retired policemen, efforts were underway to improve their livelihood, including Home Guards (HG) and Special Constables (SC) who served during the communist insurgency period, since 1950.

Hussin said PBPM was of the view that former HG and SC should at least be provided with a livelihood allowance, in appreciation of their services to the country.

He assured that PBPM would also continue to fight for the welfare of its members through various benefits provided, including the construction of Wisma PBPM and a special pilgrimage quota for retired policemen.

“A courtesy visit by the Ministry of Home Affairs secretary-general and the Inspector-General of Police will be held next week regarding the construction of Wisma PBPM, while a meeting will also be organised with Tabung Haji president, Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, to discuss the special pilgrimage quota,” he said.

Following these initiatives, Hussin who is also the chairman of the Terengganu branch of PBPM, urged between 15,000 and 20,000 retired policemen to join PBPM to facilitate requests for the benefit of ex-policemen nationwide and gain the attention of the government. - Bernama