Cops-community partnership in fighting crimes

WHILE the core duty of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) is solving crimes, cooperation between the police and the community plays a key role as well when it comes to preventing crimes, according to former Miri police chief, ACP Khoo Leng Huat.

“I hope I can make this point clear to drive home the importance of such a cooperation. Because we have support from the community, we are able to keep the crime rate down.

“We should always emphasise the need for community support in keeping crime at bay,” he told thesundaypost in an interview at the Miri Police Headquarters (IPD).

Khoo said society played a very important role in fighting crimes and its contributions towards this end could go a very long way to help keep our cities and towns safe.

“Society can contribute by acting as the eyes and ears of law enforcement agencies to bring criminal elements to justice.

“In fact, close police-community cooperation has resulted in the police surpassing the State’s target of a 35 per cent  success rate — with an improved 38 per cent aggregate — in prosecuting criminal cases in court,” noted the 60-year who hails from Penang.

He thanked the media for highlighting police success in combating crime.

“These success stories have motivated us to do even better. Moreover, the public have become more confident in sharing information with us after knowing about our success.

“This also gives the police a sense of accomplishment and I hope the good police-community rapport will continue not only in Miri but also throughout the state and country.”

Khoo, a father of four, joined the police force on May 12 in 1979 as a probationary inspector in the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) Kuala Lumpur, and was confirmed in 1982.

He was promoted to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in 1997, rose through the ranks to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in 2013 and an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in 2016. In October 2016, he was appointed OCPD (Officer-in- Charge of Police District) or the new police chief in Miri.

Khoo remains humble about his achievements, saying he was just carrying out his duty as a law enforcer.

In 2005, he was presented the National Best Prosecuting Officer Award by Negri Sembilan Police in conjunction with a state-level Police Day celebration.

His other honorifics include Ahli Mangku Negara (AMN), Ahli Mahkota Selangor (AMS) and Pingat Jasa Kebaktian (PJK).

Khoo said the job of a policeman is first and foremost to solve crimes and bring the criminals to justice. To do this, he stressed, it was important to have a good relationship with the community line with PDRM motto – ‘Polis dan Masyarakat Berpisah Tiada’ (Police and Community Never Be Apart).

“We must join hands in facing and solving crimes,” he said.

After 38 years and 15 days of exemplary service to the nation with the police in various ranks, Khoo said he would always cherish the time he served as a senior investigation officer in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Negri Sembilan, before moving to other places such as Muar (Johor), Dang Wangi (Kuala Lumpur), Gombak (Selangor) and eventually Miri, Sarawak.

“My best experience was in criminal investigation and prosecution. And I enjoyed working at all postings,” he said.

Khoo retired on May 27 this year on his 60th birthday. He handed over duties to the new Miri police chief ACP Lim Meng Seah at a ceremony held at the Miri District Police Headquarters on May 26.

Present were Miri Deputy District police chief Supt Stanley Jonathan Ringgit, heads of department, and senior police officers.

Khoo has this advice for aspiring policemen and women — be diligent and hard-working.

“A policeman’s job is not easy as you’re always under the public eye and have to work overtime. But there is great satisfaction in knowing what you do allows law-abiding citizens to work and live in peace and security, and ensures that justice prevails every time a criminal is put away,” he said.