PJ police go the extra mile to help the needy

Photo courtesy of Petaling Jaya police

PETALING JAYA: The term "a good deed a day" is increasingly being associated with the men and women of the Petaling Jaya police headquarters.

The concept, the brainchild of Asst Comm Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal, is aimed at helping those in need within the community.

The 43-year-old Petaling Jaya OCPD and his staff grabbed headlines recently when they assisted a mother of three children, who was caught stealing essential items such as fever relief pads for her son, a cake and sausages from a supermarket.

Read what happened here: Shoplifter mum gets surprise visit from PJ police

ACP Nik Ezanee closed the investigation by classifying it as no further action (NFA) after hearing about the woman's plight.

He even bought the stolen items from the supermarket and donated it to the woman, and got in touch with the Welfare Department to provide the woman further assistance.

"Stealing is definitely a crime, but if we punish a poor family, who is going hungry, it is wrong.

"There are two minds to this argument. One, those who support the move as we were able to assist the woman and her family.

"The other side of the coin is that we are promoting or encouraging people who are in similar predicaments to steal.

"However, that is not my intention. If my actions have caused distress among the community, I apologise," he said recently.

ACP Nik Ezanee clarified that he went to see the woman and advise her never to resort to crime again.

"No matter what hardship befalls us, there will surely be a solution.

"The government has prepared various avenues to assist those in need, including through the Welfare Department, Zakat Board, mosques as well as other houses of worship.

"I even told the woman that if she ever fell on hard times again, come to the police station and I will assist her," ACP Nik Ezanee said.

News of his good deed, which has since gone viral on social media, has also spread awareness of the Welfare Department's and Zakat Board's functions.

"I hope this will deter those in need from resorting to stealing, or any crime, for that matter.

"The Zakat Board chief executive officer also informed me that there are various aid provided for those who are in need but it is not known to the people.

"For me too, I now understand the real function of the Zakat Board. I am working now with them to identify those in need in Petaling Jaya," he added.

ACP Nik Ezanee said he was also planning to give Zakat Board the avenue to distribute food, necessities and other forms of aid for two days at the Petaling Jaya police headquarters.

"As the OCPD, I have come to know many resident associations in the area. I have since asked their assistance to identify those in need.

"I hope that such act of kindness will be an example and a form of 'added value' to the service of the police force for society, aside from our core duty of law enforcement," ACP Nik Ezanee said.