KUALA LUMPUR: The RM1.35bil allocation for 12 infrastructure projects for the police is essential in order to provide a better working environment for officers and personnel, says Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye (pic).
The Alliance for a Safe Community chairman said the projects, which included building and upgrading district police headquarters (IPD), are important as it could lead to better service for the public as well.
"When the public go to the IPDs to lodge a report or have matters to deal with, it is important such premises give a good image, in terms of the kind of service they can give.
"The allocations mentioned are timely," he said when contacted on Saturday (June 29).
On the RM112.6mil in funds for 465 repair and upgrade projects for police quarters, Lee said there is certainly an immediate need to provide better living conditions for the police and their families.
"Many of these quarters were built many years ago and due to wear and tear as well as poor maintenance, such quarters are no longer suitable to provide good living conditions.
"In fact, some police personnel even dig into their own pockets to cover the cost of repairs so that their families could continue to stay at the quarters," he said.
While the RM112.6mil allocation is welcomed, Lee said the amount is not sufficient given the state of most police quarters nationwide.
"We urge the government to give a reasonable annual allocation for repairs and maintenance of police quarters to address some of the very poor living conditions.
"We really hope the government will continue to monitor the situation and provide reasonable allocation to improve the living conditions of police personnel and officers," he said.
The improved living conditions will certainly be a morale booster for the men and women in blue, he said.
"They will be able to serve with great vigour and better spirit but they must also conduct their duties with integrity and avoid any wrongdoing," he said.
It was reported that a total of 12 infrastructure projects worth RM1.35bil are in the works for the police force this year.
The Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain had said the projects were under the 12th Malaysia Plan's Rolling Plan.
"The projects worth RM1.35bil is the highest number of projects approved compared to previous years.
"It will involve the constructions of district police headquarters, police quarters and other facilities" he said in his speech during Bukit Aman monthly assembly on Friday (June 28).
Among the planned projects are constructions of Kemaman district police headquarters (IPD) and Kijal police station in Terengganu, a Padang Besar IPD and police station as well as housing in Perlis, Nabawan IPD and police station as well as housing in Sabah and Jelutong police station and housing in Penang, he said.
