Malaysian Police To Maximise Strength To Maintain Order

By Nurqalby Mohd Reda
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) - The police force is to deploy and use
its strength to the maximum to curb crime and maintain peace, said Director of
Internal Security and Public Order Khalid Abu Bakar.

He said that beginning this year, the department had been entrusted with the
responsibility to undertake careful planning to assist state contingents to
reduce the crime rate.

"I have appointed my deputy Datuk (Muhammad) Sabtu (Osman) to do the
planning and ensure that crime-prevention programmes are implemented as
planned," he said in a special interview in conjunction with the 204th Police
Day Friday.

He said the department was the main pillar of the police force in the matter
of ensuring the people's safety, and it was committed to discharging its duty.

"We are committed to helping to curb crime in crime-prone areas or hotspots.
We are committed to discharging our duty to bring down the crime rate as per the
National Key Results Area (NKRA) target set by the government," he said.

Asked about his role as the new director of the department, having succeeded
Hussin Ismail on Oct 13 last year, Khalid said he regarded the responsibility as
a major challenge.

He said that as the director, he carried the responsibility to ensure that
the department functioned at its optimum to serve the people well.

The former Selangor state police chief said he would use his wide experience
to tackle threats to peace and order in the country.

The experience would be adjusted to the current situation without arbitrary
use of force in carrying out the duty entrusted to the officers and men, he
said.

"Minimum force will be used and only when it is absolutely necessary," he
said.

Khalid also said that the experience gained in the last five by-elections,
where there were no undesirable incidents, had placed the force in a better
position to ensure security in the coming east Malaysian state of Sarawak state
elections as well as the next general election.

He said the experience gained would be used as a gauge to raise the maturity
of the force in facing various challenges in the line of duty.

"I have also instructed my men to foster closer rapport in discharging their
duties.

"There should be more discussions and consultations between the senior and
junior officers and personnel, and I hope my leadership will help attain the
mission of the department as the force marks its 204th Police Day," he said.