Mitsubishi Service Center Bukit Raja

[Kristy Suzuki]

TheRMP constantly co-operates with police forces worldwide, including from those six neighbouring countries Malaysia shares a border with: Indonesian National Police, Philippine National Police,[1] Royal Brunei Police Force,[2] Royal Thai Police,[3] Singapore Police Force[4] and Vietnam People's Public Security.[5][6]

There are currently more than 130,000 sworn officers under the Royal Malaysian Police. The RMP often works closely with other law enforcement agencies in the country such as the customs department, immigration department, maritime enforcement agency and many more.

A police force has been in existence in Malaysia since the days of the Malacca Sultanate. Malacca's canonical law created what was essentially a police force in Malaysia in the fifteenth century, through the institution of the Temenggung and Hulubalang, or royal warriors. During the Sultan of Malacca's absence, the Bendahara, or Prime Minister, held absolute authority, with the power to hand out sentences, but it was the Temenggung who acted as the Police Chief or Inspector General of Police. His tasks were to arrest criminals, build jails and implement sentences. Apart from the Temenggung, there were a number of Penghulu or village chiefs who had the duty of policing their respective villages. Their main tasks included tax collection, law enforcement and preserving village security. These Malacca police systems ended when, on 10 August 1511, a Portuguese fleet led by Afonso de Albuquerque conquered Malacca for the Portuguese crown. Police duties were then largely performed by the Portuguese soldiers.

During the sixteenth century, Malaysia became a cosmopolitan society and the Portuguese government introduced the Kapitan administration. On 14 January 1641, however, the Portuguese lost Malacca to the Dutch Empire, when the Dutch invaded with the help of soldiers from Johor state, at a time when the Portuguese were at war with the Sultanate of Acheh. The Dutch retained the Kapitan system, but when the growing number of Europeans in Malaysia made change necessary, a police force known as the 'Burgher Guard' was established. The Burgher Guard was controlled by the Dutch, but their subordinates were made up of the local citizens. Village leaders continued to assume the duties of policemen under Dutch rule, as they had since before the Portuguese arrived.

Following the assimilation of Malacca into the British Empire in 1795, a modern police organisation in Malaysia was formed, on 25 March 1807, after the Charter of Justice in Penang was granted, with Penang being the first to form a police force. 25 March is today marked as Police Day in Malaysia. Most of the officers were of British origin. Later, this organisation was developed in the Straits Settlements and other Malay states, particularly the Federated Malay States. At that time, independent police forces were established for each respective state. Only after World War II was a central police organisation formed, known as the Civil Affairs Police Force. This organisation was formed in Malaya and led by a British colonial, H.B. Longworthy, who had to stabilise the police forces after the anarchy of Japanese occupation. One of the immediate problems faced by the police at this time was the rebellion of the communist party. During the confrontation between Malaysia and Indonesia, which lasted from 1963 to 1965, the police force, along with military forces, fought against the infiltration of Indonesian forces into the states of Johor and Sabah.

Almost a year after Independence Day, on 24 July 1958, the King of Malaysia, Tuanku Abdul Rahman Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhamad, bestowed the title Royal to the Federation of Malaya Police Force. In 1963, the Royal Federation of Malayan Police (RFMP), the North Borneo Armed Constabulary and the Sarawak Constabulary were merged to form the Royal Malaysia Police. The Singapore Police Force became a component unit of the RMP until Singapore's independence in 1965.

The flag and insignia of the Royal Malaysia Police has a blue-coloured background which symbolises the Malaysian masses. In the centre of the flag is the PDRM symbol coloured silver or white. The police symbol is made up of an intersected Kris and Ilang / Klewang machete. Above the PDRM symbol, there is a tiger head in a garland of Paddy flowers, with a scroll underneath bearing the name Polis Diraja Malaysia. Arabic lettering in the Crown includes the words Allah on the right and Muhammad on the left.

The crown, depicted on the Royal Malaysia Police insignia, is a panegyric reference to the King of Malaysia, bestowing the "Royal" title to its name. The words Allah and Muhammad in Arabic, which respectively symbolize Allah the Almighty and Muhammad as the Messenger, signifies Islam as the official religion and faith of RMP personnel are willing to uphold justice and the security of the people of Malaysia.

The Kris is an important symbol of the Malay Peninsula. This particular weapon was used by Malay warriors in the past. According to Frey (2003), who concluded from Sir Stamford Raffles' (1817) study of the Candi Sukuh, the kris came into existence around AD 1361. Others believe that early forms were inspired by the daggers of the Dong-Son in Vietnam (circa 300 BC). In the temples of Borobudur (825 CE) and Prambanan (850CE), renderings of the Kris have been found.

The traditional machete, Ilang or Klewang symbolises the states of Sarawak and Sabah in East Malaysia and it represents the spirit of heroism of a multitude of ethnic tribes such as the Dayak, Dusun, Bajau and Kadazan.

Lower ranks of police officers apart from Sub-Inspectors wear their rank insignia on the right sleeve of their uniforms. Sub-Inspectors and higher ranks wear their rank insignia on epaulettes on both shoulders.

Prior to 16 February 1996, the police rank were translated from English such as Deputy Commissioner of Police translated as Timbalan Pesuruhjaya Polis. After 16 February 1996, the police rank were translated from Bahasa Malaysia such as Deputy Commissioner of Police translated as Deputi Komisioner Polis, however the abbreviation of police rank would still be in English.[7]

RMP is distributed into over 1000 police stations, with several stations making up a police district. The officer in charge of a police station (OCS) reports to the officer in charge of its police district (OCPD).[8]

Apart from the three departments involved in the administration: the Management Department and the Logistics & Technology Department and Integrity and Standards Compliance Department, RMP has seven departments involved in crime prevention: Criminal Investigation Department, Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department, Internal Security and Public Order Department, Special Branch, Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department, Commercial Crime Investigation Department and Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department. All departments are led by the directors with the rank of Commissioner of Police (Army Equivalent rank of Three Stars General or Lieutenant-General).

The Management Department is tasked with the routine of management and administration affairs of the RMP. This department is also the "nerve centre" of the RMP and acts as the support services platform for the rest of the force.

The Management Department is headed by a Director with the rank of Commissioner of Police (CP) and assisted by four Deputy Directors namely Deputy Director of Management (Training), Deputy Director of Management (Administration), Deputy Director of Management (Services/Staffing) and Deputy Director of Management (Human Resource Policy Division).

This department is responsible for collecting intelligence for national security. Its role is to collect security intelligence related to both domestic and external threats, intercept subversive activities by extremist groups and individuals which could threaten the nation's stability. Also, it is in charge of obtaining, processing, evaluating and disseminating information to other departments and organisations. This department is divided into several branches:

The Special Branch is headed by a Director with the rank of Commissioner of Police (CP) and assisted by two Deputy Directors, namely Deputy Directors I and II. In accordance with the policing assignment, the main function of the Special Branch is as provided under section 3(3) and section 20(3) of the Police Act 1967.

This department deals with the investigation, arrest and prosecution of both violent crimes such as murder, robbery, rape etc., and less serious crimes such as theft and house-breaking. This department also specialises in investigating gambling, vice and secret societies (triads).

The Criminal Investigation Department is headed by a Director with the rank of Commissioner of Police (CP) and assisted by four Deputy Directors, namely the Deputy Director of Criminal Investigation (Intelligence / Operations), Deputy Director of Criminal Investigation (Investigation / Legal), Deputy Director of Criminal Investigation (Organized Crime), Deputy Director Criminal Investigation (Forensic / Databank / DNA / Strategic Planning). The Unit Tindakan Cepat is attached to CID and based at all police contingent headquarters.

This department is tasked with the maintenance of public security and order. It is responsible for traffic control and search & rescue (SAR) operations. In this role, this department cooperates with other agencies, such as the Malaysian Armed Forces and Army / Navy Maritime Patrol to prevent piracy and to secure the national borders.

The Internal Security and Public Order Department is headed by a Commissioner of Police (CP) and assisted by four deputy directors namely the Deputy Director of JKDNKA (Operations) (Deputy Commissioner), Deputy Director of JKDNKA (PGA) (Deputy Commissioner), Deputy Director of JKDNKA (General Policing) (Senior Assistant Commissioner) and Deputy Director of JKDNKA (PGK) (Senior Assistant Commissioner).

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