As a follow-up to my earlier press release on issues affecting the PDRM, I would like to direct our attention to the welfare of PDRM staffs, which has been sadly neglected all these years under the previous regime.
(i) Do Away With Loans To Be Taken Only from Koperasi Polis
It is mind-boggling that PDRM staffs are required to take personal loans only from Koperasi Polis. Apparently, there is a standing instruction issued by a previous IGP which makes it mandatory for loans to be taken only from Koperasi Polis. The interest rates offered by Koperasi Polis are higher than those offered by conventional banking and financial institutions. The rationale is to purportedly help Koperasi Polis. However, such mandatory requirement is at the expense of the PDRM staffs. Rank and file personnel will be most affected as they are required to pay higher interests compared to those offered by commercial banking institutions.
Proposal:
Do away with such mandatory requirement of directing police officers and personnel to take personnel loans from Koperasi Polis. Allow them a choice or option to obtain loans from other banking or financial institutions which potentially can offer much lower interest rates.
(ii) Revamp Koperasi Polis
Formed in 1928, Koperasi Polis has funds and assets amounting to RM689.5 million. All officers and rank and file personnel are required to contribute a sum of their salaries to Koperasi Polis. However, there are many issues surrounding Koperasi Polis. The main issue is that very low dividends are paid out annually to PDRM officers and personnel. Secondly is the question of accountability and transparency. Potentially, there are many dubious investment decisions being made. These issues have to be reviewed and appropriate measures must be introduced.
Proposal:
Currently the board of directors for Koperasi Polis consists of PDRM personnel with no relevant experience at all on how to best utilise the funds and invest funds in an efficient way. Independent directors with relevant industry experience must be appointed to sit at the board of directors in Koperasi Polis. As one of the four financial institutes recognised as Agensi Dana Bumiputra, the Koperasi performance should be reviewed and benchmarked against the other three, namely Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT) and Lembaga Tabung Haji (LTH). Constant audit to ensure checks and balances must be introduced to reduce flawed investment decisions which will bring no benefit to Koperasi Polis. Jabatan Audit Negara or a professional audit firm must be allowed to audit all the funds and investment portfolios retained by Koperasi Polis and the findings be made available to Koperasi Polis contributors.
(iii) Living Quarters for PDRM Officers and Personnel
Most, if not all, of the PDRM quarters are in a bad shape. Why must the policemen and their family be placed in shabby quarters? They must be given a reasonable housing befitting their contribution and sacrifices to the nation. They and their family deserve better.
Proposal:
The government must look into the conditions of police quarters. Special allocation should be provided to PDRM for yearly maintenance of the quarters. New building handovers to PDRM must be inspected with a fine tooth brush before acceptance. We have to apply standards on our contractors who are paid to build these structures instead of just accepting it like in the past.
The above issues highlighted above are genuine issues affecting PDRM. I am in fact just scratching the surface by raising some of the issues. There are myriads of issues which we as a responsible and truly different government should look into while addressing the issues to resuscitate the once honoured image of PDRM. I believe given time, more officers will step forward to raise all issues affecting PDRM and they will be more motivated to carry out their duties for the country.