KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri T.C Goh, the President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong), hopes the government can strengthen support, in terms of personnel and equipment, for police stations in remote areas.
He expressed this while welcoming the announcements made by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Razarudin Husain that “the closure of gates at designated police stations after 10 PM would not affect their operations nor prevent the public from reporting cases”.
Goh, who is also the President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) and the Chairman of the Sabah State Joint Committee of the Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) emphasized that the police are an important force in maintaining national and local security, crucial for the development of various sectors in the country, attracting and retaining investments, and ensuring a peaceful and prosperous life for the people.
“Therefore, it is extremely necessary to enhance the backup and staffing of police personnel across all districts in the country,” he said, in a response issued on Wednesday.
He stated that the government should strive to ensure that police stations, including those in remote suburban areas, meet these requirements or basic standards, and they should not become a weak spot or worse, a target for criminals and radical groups.
He said, apart from accepting reports from the public at any time, police stations in various districts should also ensure they have enough manpower, or can mobilize personnel from other districts, or units, to handle major cases or incidents at any time.
Goh thus hoped the government could pay due attention to and review the current manpower resources of the police force, in order to meet the needs of present and future social development and population growth.
He also welcomed and looked forward to the Ministry of Home Affairs directing the police to re-examine and strengthen the standard operating procedures (SOPs), including patrol frequency, of all district headquarters and major police stations.
However, he believes that these SOPs should also cover police stations nationwide, including those in remote areas.
He stressed that the public should also understand the workload and burdens of the police in maintaining security, and provide necessary support and cooperation, such as enhancing “police-community cooperation” to assist the police in preventing and solving crimes.
