©Malay Mail (Used by permission)
by EMMANUEL SANTA MARIA CHIN
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 — With the 14th general election (GE14) approaching, federal police have taken proactive steps to make sure security will not be compromised.
Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Seri Zulkifli Abdullah said preparations and drills were divided into five phases to prepare officers to maintain public order.
“The first phase of training and drills will be in the period before the election, where we are currently,” he said.
“We do not have an exact date for the election but it is important the police are prepared.”
Zulkifli said the second phase would be during the naming of the candidates, followed by the campaign period. The final two stages would be during polling day and after the voting.
“The preparation of officers at the district and state levels has begun, but not at the federal level yet,” he said.
Zulkifli also reminded officers of the looming enforcement date for their “Trim N Fit” programme.
“Starting January, the officers will be subjected to physical tests and body mass index (BMI) counts, where their physical abilities would determine their chances of being considered for promotion,” he said.
Earlier, Zulkifli witnessed the duty handover ceremony between outgoing city police chief Commissioner Datuk Amar Singh and Commissioner Datuk Mazlan Lazim.
Mazlan, who was formerly deputy police chief, was promoted while receiving the rank of Commissioner of Police.
The handing over saw Deputy Commissioner Datuk Zainuddin Abdullah, formerly deputy police chief of Perak, take over as city deputy chief.
Mazlan said eradicating gambling and prostitution, drug abuse, and theft would be his main target as police chief.
“The number of thefts in the city has caused some level of public unease, and I aim to bring the index down, along with other crime,” he said.
Amar, in his last task as city police chief, witnessed the duty handover ceremony of the Dang Wangi district police chief.
Assistant Commissioner Shaharudin Abdullah, formerly Kedah Crime Prevention and Community Safety deputy chief, took over as Dang Wangi chief from outgoing Assistant Commissioner Mohd Sukri Kaman.