Thursday 28 November 2013

Ministry to study proposal for auxiliary cops to replace guards

KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry will study a proposal by Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor for auxiliary policemen to replace security guards from security companies to guard government offices and housing areas.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi added, however, that it had to first take into account the financial and legal implications of such a move.

His ministry would also consider views of non-governmental organisations, the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (Rehda) and the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry before makin­g a decision.

He was speaking at a press conference at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) here yesterday after presenting the Pingat Kedaulatan Negara (PKN) awards to 156 policemen involved in Ops Daulat in Lahad Datu in February.

Dr Ahmad Zahid said security companies were regulated under the Private Agencies Act, thus a detailed study should be carried out before considering such a proposal.

We have to look at the financial and legal aspect of such a proposal. We are also looking into the implication on community associations hiring private security guards as houses are still being broken into despite the extra security,” he said.

On a related matter, Dr Ahmad Zahid said the Federal Government planned to bestow the Pingat Jasa Pahlawan Negara (PJPN) on more than 112,000 police veterans and retirees who served until the end of Emergency Period.

The medal is equivalent to the Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) awarded to those in the armed forces. We expect to present this award in stages,” he said.

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