Malaysian PM Najib Wants PDRM To Fulfill Two Major Aspirations Of The People

KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak wants the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) to fulfill two aspirations of the people, namely to ensure public security all the time and to balance wisely between individual rights and public order. He described the task as a challenge not only to the PDRM but also to him as the Prime Minister, to the government and to the Home Minister. "I'm confident that this challenge can be met," he said when opening the Bukit Aman PDRM Tower 1, which is the new police administration building, here Thursday. Also present were his wife, Rosmah Mansor, Home Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai, Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar and senior police officers. Najib said the two aspirations of the people must be met in the context of Malaysia as a country that practiced parliamentary democracy where the government was elected by the people. "It is important that every government agency exists for the people and because of the people," he said. The Prime Minister hoped the PDRM could continue to improve its excellent service in raising further public confidence in the country's peace-keeping force. "All this while, we have gone through various challenges including the communist threat and the emergency era, and the PDRM had carried out their tasks effectively to the extent that peace had been achieved. "I hope the PDRM can further raise the public confidence level which is now at 70.5 per cent," he said. The Global Peace Index (GPI) in its 2011 report had recognised Malaysia as the safest country in South-east Asia and number 19 in the world. Najib said that during the transition period while the country implemented transformation, the PDRM had also given close cooperation and strong commitment to the government, which had made it possible for the government to abolish three emergency ordinances and formulate a new law to replace the Internal Security Act (ISA). "In this context, we have sought the views of the PDRM...Whenever we formulate a new act, the powers provided are adequate for the PDRM to curb crime, tackle the syndicates and extremism," he said. Meanwhile, Najib said the government would continue to consider measures to further enhance the capabilities of the PDRM in line with the current developments and financial situation of the government. -- BERNAMA