KOTA TINGGI: Most of the police stations in the country have been in use for more than 30 years and need to be upgraded or completely rebuilt.
Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd said federal police in Bukit Aman were aware of this and have held discussions to try to overcome the problem.
“The problem exists not just here (in Johor), but all over the country... there are buildings in disrepair, workplaces that are not comfortable. In fact, in my visit to the contingent in Sarawak, including in Miri, where I served in the 1980s, it is still in disrepair and in fact has gotten worse, with the ceiling starting to rot.
“At Bukit Aman level, we met with the Home Minister (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) two months ago and brought this to his attention. Perhaps the matter can now be brought to the attention of the Finance Ministry,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after officially opening the Bayu Damai police station. Present were Johor police chief Datuk Mohd Khalil Kader Mohd and district police chief Superintendent Ahsmon Bajah.
Wan Najmuddin said Bukit Aman had already identified stations which are in disrepair, but was unable to provide statistics on the actual number which needed attention.
Earlier, he said the Bayu Damai station, which occupies more than 16,300 sq m of space, was completed on Nov 15, 2016, is manned by 156 policemen of various ranks.
He said the station has four lock-up cells, a house for the station chief, a five-storey block containing 18 units for policemen and their families and a store for case evidence.
“Bayu Damai now has 14,200 residents, and has become an area of a focus for investors. As more investors come in, the rate of increase in residents has increased, so there is a need for policing services here so that safety, security and public order can be maintained.
“Throughout the whole of last year, Bayu Damai saw 37 criminal cases. As such, police need to increase the momentum we have here now and ensure that we achieve even better results.
“This police station will surely serve as a catalyst for us to give our best services to the residents of Bayu Damai,” he said.
