IGP to renew pledge

KUALA LUMPUR, 25 March 2009: Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Musa Hassan will renew his pledge to enhance the role and performance of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) before Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today.

This will be done in conjunction with the 202nd Police Day parade at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol).

Musa said this was in line with PDRM’s aim to continue with the mission and vision to strengthen the force while overcoming weaknesses.

At the function, PDRM’s new song, “Tegas, Adil dan Berhemah” (“Firm, Fair and Courteous”) will be heard by the public for the first time.

“The pledge to be read by me will include my promise to safeguard the country’s security from any threats, to combat crime, to forge closer police-community relations and to serve with honesty, integrity and fairness.

“I will renew the pledge to remind all parties including the community of my role and that of the police force, and of our seriousness in fighting crime,” he said in an interview with Bernama at Wisma Bernama last night.

“The pledge will at least change public negative perception about the police force as we are trying to improve our performance and quality of work, besides reducing crime.

“There are still voices always blaming the police, thus encouraging people to break the law and (people) will eventually lose respect for the police while the criminals will reign supreme.

“Therefore, in conjunction with the 202nd Police Day celebration, we endeavour to change from traditional policing to a more modern and sophisticated policing, which is in tune with the changing time and the need to strengthen the force,” he said.

Musa said among PDRM’s plans were restructuring of the force by creating a new department to monitor and check terrorism and transnational crime.

He said to enhance the force’s capability and efficiency, more training centres would be set up with the cooperation of foreign experts like from the US’s Federal Bureau of Investigation or FBI.

Additional personnel

Musa said to achieve the objectives of the strategic five-year plan, PDRM would require additional personnel of up to 60,000 to improve the police-community ratio.

“We only have 106,000 members. Now we are also entrusted to safeguard the country’s territorial waters and borders, so we need more [personnel] and logistics,” he said.

He also advised the people to be more rational in their thinking and not to resort to actions which could be detrimental to peace and stability, especially in this time of economic downturn.

“The members of the force on the other hand, should abide by the policies and plans drawn up and to carry out their duties to the best of their ability.

“I will provide the facilities needed to make their work easier, but they must be free from such wrongdoings as abuse of power and corruption,” he said.