Convert established apartments, flats into police housing, govt told

 

Mokhtar Omar, president of Persatuan Bekas Polis Malaysia, says the redevelopment of existing apartments or flats is cumbersome and costly as it requires demolishing existing buildings and constructing new ones. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: The government should take over established apartments or flats to resolve the housing woes currently faced by members of the police force, said a police veterans association.

The president of Persatuan Bekas Polis Malaysia, Mokhtar Omar, said redevelopment is cumbersome and costly as it requires demolishing existing buildings and constructing new ones.

“The government should instead acquire established apartments or flats to resolve this issue, especially in town areas where rental can be quite expensive.

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“This is a quick fix to the problem as redevelopment is time consuming,” he told FMT.

Mokhtar said unsafe housing has been a longstanding issue, with most cases revolving around leakages and worn-out wiring.

Mokhtar Omar.

“There is a time frame within which electrical wiring maintenance should be done, which is usually neglected,” he said.

Saying the planting of cables inside walls is one of the reasons for the state of disrepair, Mokhtar suggested that wires be laid externally so that any damage will be visible and the maintenance costs reduced as no hacking of walls will be necessary.

On Aug 24, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said around 60% of police housing may be unsafe.

He had previously announced an additional RM200 million to upgrade facilities and housing for the armed forces nationwide, and RM40 million for police housing, including in the Eastern Sabah Security Command area.

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Meanwhile, a police chief who spoke on condition of anonymity called for scheduled maintenance of police housing.

“I hope the government prioritises the welfare of PDRM as it will boost morale and allow them to better serve the nation,” he told FMT.

He said while the higher-ups usually respond promptly to complaints, a lot still depends on the cost of maintenance.

“Minor issues are usually dealt with instantly, but major ones require time due to budget constraints,” the police chief said.

Separately, a corporal said that he would usually attend to minor leakages and wiring issues himself as it is quicker than lodging a complaint and waiting for a response.

He also said vehicles in some rural police stations are worn out, which sometimes impedes patrol duties.

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“I hope the government can rectify these issues and provide better housing, upgrade patrol vehicles, and improve PDRM’s overall facilities,” he said. - FMT