SARATOK: Close cooperation between police, community leaders and residents has strengthened public safety here amid calls to expedite construction of a long-approved new district police headquarters.
Senator Pele Billy Tinggom said sustained collaboration between the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), local leaders and residents had contributed to improvements in security across the district despite existing operational constraints.
“At the policy level in Parliament of Malaysia, I have consistently raised the need to strengthen security control in Saratok, especially related to drug-related crimes,” he said at the Shooting Competition with the leadership of IPD Saratok in conjunction with the 219th Police Day celebration here.
He said proposals included improving logistics facilities and increasing manpower, particularly narcotics officers, to enhance enforcement effectiveness in the district.
Pele also stressed that the proposed construction of a new Saratok district police headquarters (IPD), which had long received policy approval, has yet to be implemented.
“The site for the new IPD Saratok has been identified and policy approval has already been given, but construction has still not started,” he said, adding that the matter would be raised again in the next parliamentary sitting.
On manpower requirements, he said the number of additional officers needed had yet to be determined and would depend on operational needs identified by PDRM.
He added that among the main security concerns currently affecting the Saratok area were oil palm fruit theft and drug abuse cases.
“The new IPD Saratok will help accommodate additional officers in the future and improve the comfort of PDRM personnel.”
Also present were Kalaka assemblyman Mohamad Duri, Krian assemblyman Friday Belik and Saratok district police chief DSP Mathew Manggie, together with police officers and personnel.
