TIMELY SECURITY MEASURE: Roslan (sixth left), Awang Jaya (fourth right) and others posing for a group photo in front of the new police kiosk at Kuching Sentral.
KUCHING: The setting up of a police kiosk at Kuching Sentral bus terminal will see the facility become a transportation hub which is safe and conducive for visitors to patronise.
Speaking at the official handing-over ceremony of the Kuching Sentral Police Kiosk yesterday, Permodalan ASSAR project manager Awang Jaya Adeni said police presence at the terminal was important to create a secure environment for its visitors and passengers alike.
“Kuching Sentral is now a transportation hub with visitors from all over Malaysia. It is very important to make the environment at this terminal safe and conducive to come and stay and shop.
“The bus operators are very happy with this place because they are making a lot more money here, and passengers are paying for their fares. In short, everybody is happy,” said Awang Jaya.
He also thanked the police, especially district police chief ACP Roslan Bek Ahmad, for agreeing to the management’s request to set up a police kiosk even though it was not standard practice to provide one for commercial areas.
The presence of the police, he added, will further reduce the already low incidents of crime at the facility which has so far seen only a few extortion cases reported.
The kiosk is located at the departure/arrival berth and comes equipped with a holding cell.
Roslan, meanwhile, said the setting up of the kiosk was an example of cooperation between the police and the community in curbing crime, and congratulated the management of Kuching Sentral for taking the initiative in enhancing the safety of its visitors.
Kuching Sentral Regional Bus Terminal is a privately-funded project undertaken by Permodalan ASSAR, a state government agency.
It receives an average of 3,500 people daily, including some 1,500 passengers in transit.
Those present during the handing-over ceremony included Permodalan ASSAR senior manager Abdul Aziz Yaman, Kuching Sentral complex manager Jerry Tai, Kuching Sentral bus terminal operations manager Stanley Ong, deputy district police chief Supt Pauzi Bujang and Supt Abang Ahmad Abang Julai as well as other senior district police officers.