MARAN: A proposal to provide accommodation by renting units at housing settlements for police officers and personnel in the Klang Valley has been submitted to the government.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim said the application for accommodation has been submitted to the government through the Home Ministry to address the lack of police quarters in the city.
"We have proposed for 220 units and the concept is by renting homes from private housing developers in the same settlement. There is a huge number of officers and personnel working in the Klang Valley but there are not enough police quarters for them to stay.
"If the government gives the nod then the rental concept might be able to solve the housing issues currently experienced by those on duty in the Klang Valley. Some are receiving a housing allowance of RM300 but they cannot find a suitable house to rent in the city," he told reporters after his working visit to the Maran police headquarters here today.
Mazlan said he hoped that the government would conduct a comprehensive study on the matter and help address the housing issue for policemen who have been ensuring peace and order in the country.
"We hope a decision on the matter will be made soon. If the concept becomes a success then a similar approach will be expanded to other major cities including Penang and Johor.
"Approving the rent concept housing facilities will ensure the welfare of police officers and personnel is solved as some have to travel quite a distance for work," he said.
Meanwhile, he said the long-delayed Maran police quarters for lower-ranking police personnel here will be fully completed early next year.
He said the quarters consisting 60 units in five blocks located within the police headquarters complex will be completed after a 16-year delay with an additional cost of RM1.8 million.
"The delays were caused by some technical issues. However, the repair work is now about 98 per cent complete and policemen and their respective families can move in early next year.
"The Maran police personnel were previously forced to rent elsewhere and during the floods early this year some of their homes were affected. The new look quarters will certainly provide some relief to the families," he said, adding that the quarters cost about RM11.9 million.
