PUTRAJAYA: The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (MDTCC) will review the current system of providing firearms to its enforcement personnel.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Hasan Malek, said this was due to the nature of the operations conducted by them which were becoming more dangerous.
Under the current system, he said, only the leader in an operation would be equipped with a firearm.
“We will review it so that all the enforcement officers will be provided with a firearm each to protect themselves when they carry out operations which are becoming more dangerous,” he told a media conference after presenting letters of appointment to enforcement personnel here yesterday.
He also said the ministry would submit a proposal to the Cabinet to increase the allowance for enforcement personnel from RM200 depending on grade, currently.
He said the increase was necessary due to the risks faced by the enforcement personnel who made up 66 per cent of the staff at the ministry or 2,476 people.
“Through their engagement with other agencies, there were fewer complaints on increase of price of goods in conjunction with Aidilfitri and in some states, there was no complaints at all,” he pointed out.
The ministry, he said, would also propose an insurance protection scheme through salary deduction for the ministry’s enforcement personnel.
The ministry was also planning to improve the scheme for enforcement officers, as well as set up a training and academic centre for its staff. — Bernama