KOTA SAMARAHAN: Kota Samarahan Member of Parliament, Datuk Rubiah Wang, has reiterated her commitment to strengthening police infrastructure in the area, highlighting the need for upgrades to better support the growing community.
Rubiah said that although the constituency is supported by several police stations, including those in Asajaya and Sadong Jaya, there is a pressing need for additional personnel and improved infrastructure to meet the area’s increasing demands.
“Kota Samarahan is the education hub of the state. We have a rising number of people coming into the area who require protection and security enforcement.
“However, our police manpower is stretched thin, and facilities are lagging behind,” she said.
She said in her speech during the Sarawak Police Contingent Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department’s townhall discussion at Dewan Peladang, here today.
She said that the Asajaya police station is operating from an old government quarters and includes a holding cell for detainees, but lacks the basic amenities of a proper station.
“We need better, more functional police stations. I have raised this issue in Parliament multiple times since 2013.
“While there were approvals given in the past, the plans seem to have disappeared from the radar due to changes in leadership,” she said.
She also expressed concern over the delay in setting up a temporary police station in Samarindah, despite repeated announcements over the past few years.
“I’ve been told it will open, but I have yet to see any progress. I’ve brought this up with the related minister, and he said he would look into it,” she said.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) in terms of staffing, Rubiah encouraged the public to play a more active role in community safety through the Volunteer Smartphone Patrol (VSP) app, a mobile application developed by PDRM.
She noted that in 2020 alone, over 837,000 volunteers registered to use the app, which allows citizens to report incidents directly to the police, including sending images and sharing locations in real-time.
“This is one of the best initiatives by PDRM to combat crime. I encourage everyone to download the app from Google Play and become the eyes and ears of the police,” she said.
