Possible career choice: Students of SMJK Yuk Choy visiting the PDRM Federal Reserve Unit display booth during the police force career talks in Ipoh, Perak, yesterday. — RONNIE CHIN/The Star
IPOH: The mindset of the older Chinese generation that the police force was a dangerous profession must be changed, says Perak Chinese Assembly Hall president Datuk Kwan Foh Kwai.
He said this was among the many reasons why the participation of the Chinese in the force was lacking as many did not want to take the risk.
“It has become a worrying trend to see increasingly fewer Chinese making a career in the force.
“Thus, the responsibility to change that mindset is being undertaken by the assembly hall, which holds many programmes to encourage more Chinese youths to join the force.
“The perception must change; we must all have a proactive contribution and equal responsibility with the other races. There are so many career perspectives in the force.
“We must also equally contribute our services to the people and the country, and together with the other races join the force to make the country a better place to live in,” he said in his speech during a programme on careers in the police force held at SMJK Yuk Choy here yesterday.
Perak police chief Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri was also present at the event jointly organised by the school, the police force and the assembly hall.
Comm Mohd Yusri said more Chinese youths were encouraged to join the force, noting that of the 130,000 members in the police force nationwide currently, the Chinese represent only 1% of them.
“There is very little involvement of the Chinese community in the force, and we need more from the other races to be part of the team.
“There is no quota system in the force based on race or religion, but we see there are 94% of Malays, 3% of Indians and only 1% of Chinese,’’ he told reporters after the event.
Comm Mohd Yusri reiterated that there were good career prospects and a secure future for those who join the force.
“We try to hold or join programmes like this one organised at a school as well as create awareness of a career in the force during our community policing events.“We need personnel and officers from all races to ensure we can provide safety and security efficiently at all times,” he said.
Earlier, during his speech to the students, Comm Mohd Yusri said the job scope of the force in the 1950s, 60s and 70s and during insurgency was totally different from what the force faces in current times.
“Nowadays, with artificial intelligence, the threat is a global one.
“Don’t pick up the negative perception towards the force because my men provide the best services possible to ensure Perakians, especially, can sleep peacefully at night,” he added.
