162 police posts in need of repair, replacement

MORIB: At least 162 police posts along the coastline are in need of repair and replacement.

The posts, manned by personnel from the General Operations Forces, are used in Ops Nyah 1 to curb illegal immigration and smuggling activities nationwide.

Internal Security and Public Order Department director Comm Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, who visited several of these posts during his working visit to Banting, said almost all the posts were in bad condition.

"I have been briefed by my men that some of these posts are rotting and not safe to be occupied.

"In some cases, my personnel are forced to sit under oil palm trees because the posts get so hot during the day, it is impossible for them to sit inside," he told reporters after visiting the Ops Nyah 1 post here.

He said the posts in question were located in several states including Selangor, Kelantan and Sabah.

Comm Acryl Sani said these posts will be replaced with a container type cabin.

"While I was helming the Federal Police Strategic Resources and Technology Department (StaRt), we already identified the containers to be used.

"We have sent a proposal to the Bukit Aman top brass and it has already been discussed at the ministry level," he said, adding that they would start replacing these posts as soon as they had the funds to do so.

He also said that many of these police posts do not have fences which compromises the safety of his personnel on duty.

"They have firearms on site, and the lack of fences puts them on alert at all times.

"Anyone can just walk into the posts if there is no way to keep them out," he said.

Comm Acryl Sani also said he was aware that many of the personnel on duty at these posts were using their own motorcycles for patrols.

"I will study allowing them to claim a RM80 motorcycle allowance each month," he said.

He added that in Selangor, a total of 184 arrests had been made between January and May this year with seizures amounting to RM683,573.

"The seizures included 540,000 contraband  cigarettes, several vehicles, a speedboat, and drugs," he said.