KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 — Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail today said that 40,000 police officers will be deployed to the six states where elections are expected to be held soon.
His comments come on the heels of the dissolution of the Kelantan and Selangor state assemblies this week. The four state assemblies of Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah and Terengganu are set to follow suit imminently.
“This week, we saw the dissolution of the state assemblies being announced. That means there will be state elections soon.
“Hence, we are now in the process of deploying approximately 40,000 police officers to the six states in question.
“These police officers will either be from the state itself or from states where no election is being held,” he told reporters after the handover of duties ceremony for the new inspector-general of police and deputy inspector-general of police at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) in Kuala Lumpur.
He said that the police officers’ main task will be maintaining national security and law and order, especially in those states where elections will be conducted.
Saifuddin Nasution also described the new Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain and Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay as a solid combination that will uphold the Royal Malaysia Police’s (PDRM) reputation.
“I am hopeful and confident that PDRM under the leadership of Razarudin will continue the excellent legacy of Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani.
“I believe Razarudin’s experience, together with the leadership qualities shown by Ayob Khan over the years, will allow the police to maintain its good reputation as enforcers of the law in this country,” he said.
On a separate matter, Saifuddin Nasution said that two investigation papers have been opened in the case of a police officer who allegedly berated civilians and bad-mouthed her colleagues.
“So far, two investigation papers have been opened under Section 506 and 186 of the Penal Code against the officer.
“The criminal case was referred to the Special Investigation Unit of Bukit Aman’s Criminal Investigation Department on June 19,” he said.
On June 16, a 35-year-old female police officer was filmed allegedly insulting a rank-and-file policeman.
Meanwhile, a second video that also went viral allegedly showed the same police officer arguing with a civilian at a carpark in Brickfields.
The cop in question was detained on June 18 by Gombak police but has since been released on bail.
