Fresh assessments to be made at IPDs nationwide

KUALA PENYU - New assessments at all district police headquarters (IPDs) in the country will be conducted, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin.

The assessment, he said will be made based on several criteria including the population density for each district.

“We have to understand that although there are many districts in Malaysia, for example there are 222 parliamentary areas in the country, but there are less than 160 IPDs because one IPD handles several districts combined.

"This is because when we wanted to establish an IPD, we did not look at it in terms of the district's status, but in terms of how many residents there were and we took this into account as the personnel wanted to keep the areas safe.

"But if at a certain point we see a need to heighten the security, we would do so,” he told reporters after officiating the Kuala Penyu District Kaamatan Festival Ceremony, today.

He said this when commenting on the proposal to establish an IPD in Kuala Penyu which was submitted by State Assemblyman Datuk Limus Jury.

However, he said the assessment would also involve the status upgrade of stations under the IPD.

"We are not upgrading it only just as IPDs, for instance the stations have its respective grades and we would also upgrade their statuses.

"This will be done when we do the new assessment, nationwide," he said.

Earlier, Hamzah also informed that the ministry has discussed with the Sabah Chief Minister on a suitable site to build a second Police Training Centre (Pulapol), in Sabah.