ISKANDAR PUTERI: Integrity remains the most important asset within the police force, regardless of how advanced its facilities, equipment or expertise may be, says Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay.
The Deputy Inspector-General of Police said public trust in law enforcement depended on the character and integrity of every officer.
"We may have experience, skills and sophisticated assets, but if we do not have integrity, they have no value at all.
"Integrity comes from within and not from experience or skills.
"We may have everything else, but without character, we lose everything," Ayob said in his speech at the official opening of the Iskandar Puteri district police headquarters on Monday (June 15).
Ayob Khan stressed that the strength of the police force was not determined by impressive buildings or modern facilities alone.
"We do not want to have great buildings but fail to develop personnel with strong values because the true strength of the force lies in the honesty and integrity of its members.
"If integrity is lost, public confidence will also disappear," he said.
He also reiterated that there would be no compromise against abuse of power, corruption or disciplinary misconduct within the force.
"Anyone who betrays the trust given by the people will face firm action regardless of rank or position," he said.
Ayob said the new headquarters would help strengthen security efforts in Iskandar Puteri, which is expected to have a population of about 647,000 by 2035.
He noted that the district had evolved into a major administrative centre and an important international gateway for Johor, bringing increasingly complex security challenges.
Among the emerging threats faced by law enforcement agencies today are cybercrime, online scam syndicates, cross-border criminal activities and transnational organised crime networks, he added.
Recalling the history of the district headquarters, Ayob said the Iskandar Puteri police district first operated from a rented shoplot in Taman Nusa Perintis in 2007 before plans for a permanent headquarters were initiated several years later.
He said construction delays resulted in the appointment of a new contractor in 2020, with the headquarters eventually completed in 2022.
Ayob also highlighted Johor police's role in pioneering several operations that were later adopted at the national level, including integrated enforcement efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic and operations targeting cross-border crimes.
He expressed confidence that the new headquarters would enhance the police force's ability to maintain security and public order in one of Johor's fastest-growing districts.
"Security is a shared responsibility. Without the support of the community, our efforts will not achieve maximum effectiveness.
"We hope this headquarters will help ensure Iskandar Puteri remains a safe place to live, work, invest and visit," he said.
