JOHOR BARU: There will be no holiday for some 8,000 policemen statewide as they will be on duty throughout the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.
State police chief Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said 90% of the total manpower would be on standby with some two million vehicles expected to enter the state.
“Only 10% are allowed to go on leave for the celebration,” he told a press conference after attending a Quran recital programme with about 300 policemen at the state police headquarters on Wednesday night.
“We will also be stationing 326 policemen and auxiliary police to man vehicular and foot traffic at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex.
“They will work in three shifts, so around 100 personnel will be on duty at any one time.
“As for the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex in Gelang Patah, about 30 personnel will be on standby there as the foot traffic at the Second Link is significantly less compared with the Causeway,” he said.
Comm Kamarul Zaman said roadblocks would also be set up at 24 hotspots throughout the state.
“Those on roadblock duty have been told not to hold up traffic by conducting unnecessary checks.
“Road users should be patient on the road and cooperate with the authorities to ensure smooth traffic and a safe journey to their destination,” he added.
In KOTA KINABALU, a total of 460 policemen will be on duty and deployed to keep traffic smooth and conduct crime prevention rounds during the festive break.
Acting Police Commissioner Deputy Comm Datuk Jauteh Dikun said Ops Selamat 20 had started and would last until April 27.
“The objective is to make it easier and safer for road users to reach their destination,” he said when met after launching the operation on Wednesday night.
DCP Jauteh said they had identified several stretches that were usually congested as well as other areas that could potentially contribute to a traffic crawl.
Towards this end, he urged the public to prepare physically and mentally, especially those going for a long drive back home.
