‘Raise police decision to reduce number of S’wakians serving in state in Parliament’

KUCHING: The state government through its Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) members of Parliament should raise the issue of the Royal Malaysia Police seeking to reduce the number of Sarawakian personnel stationed in the state, in the Dewan Rakyat.

Sarawak Patriots Association chairman Datuk John Lau Pan Heng said this decision by the police top management in Bukit Aman needed “deeper thought” and ought to be brought up in Parliament.

“In my opinion, the overall percentage of Sarawakians in the police force should be raised and more senior posts allocated to Sarawakians to reflect the partnership of Sarawak, Sabah and Malaya, with an agreed formula,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Lau was commenting on the recent statement by Bukit Aman Management Department director Datuk Ramli Din that the percentage of Sarawakian personnel serving in their home state was 70 per cent, which exceeded the 40 per cent-mark set by the police.

Ramli was reported to have said that the police management would consider reducing the numbers in stages not just in Sarawak but also Sabah, as part of its rotation posting procedure especially for sensitive posts, and to give opportunities to senior personnel to be posted back to their home state.

Commenting further, Lau said the money spent to relocate the transferring officers along with their personal effects could instead be used to repair police quarters and improve personnel welfare.

“Imagine the expenses incurred to transfer out 30 per cent of the force in Sarawak, and also to transfer in a similar percentage of officers to replace them,” he said.

GPS secretary-general Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi, who is Kapit MP, had on Nov 29 called on the police top management to reconsider its decision to reduce the number of Sarawakian police personnel serving in the state.

He said the 30 per cent reduction was substantial and could cause anxiety among affected personnel and their families. Nanta also called for the matter to be deliberated in depth, including the rationale behind the reduction.

In my opinion, the overall percentage of Sarawakians in the police force should be raised and more senior posts allocated to Sarawakians to reflect the partnership of Sarawak, Sabah and Malaya, with an agreed formula. Datuk John Lau Pang Heng