KUALA LUMPUR: With new crime-fighting toys to play around with, the police will see a smoother operation when carrying out their duties.
In efforts to ease daily police communication and reduce crime, coupled with the government's annual budget for them, the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) is currently exploring a new wave of technology.
The assets, ranging from patrol cars, motorcycles, planes and helicopters, buildings and other entities, were estimated to be worth RM35 billion.
Federal Logistics department director Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah said possession logistics, however, needed constant and proper maintenance so they could be used in the long-term.
Under the Royal Malaysian police net project (RMPnet), several new communication digital systems such as the Mobile Card Acceptance Device (MCAD), long-range walkie-talkies, computer-based police reporting system, and police report online checking system, have been developed and introduced.
"The cost of implementing and developing these systems was initially estimated at RM980 million but it may increase for the plan to be executed nationwide," said Zulkifli after visiting the Dang Wangi district police headquarters yesterday.
The systems were expected to be expanded and utilised nationwide by the end of next year.
Hi-tech police
MCAD (Mobile Card Acceptance Device)
- Allows on-field police patrol officers on crime prevention duty to check personal details, vehicle data or past criminal records of suspicious characters they detain.
- Officers can key-in person's data and results will appear within a minute on the system gadget.
- Officers do not have to call back or alert the operation room in headquarters to check on data. At the same time, they do not have to detain a person for long.
- There are currently 2,000 device units using the MCAD communication system within the force.
- Another 1,100 units will be added by year-end.
- System implemented in 2009 in crime hot-spot states of Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Johor.
Long-range walkie-talkies
- Currently, officers are equipped with normal walkie-talkies but the newly-upgraded communication system enables them to communicate longrange by using the police communication wave.
- This digital radio wave system was introduced middle of last year replacing the analog radio wave adopted 15 years ago.
- The system supports use of data and voice transfer. The analog system only supported voice transfer.
- The current police communication system is implemented from Klang Valley to Johor. (Klang Valley — South communication line)
- Police are now upgrading the system to the North and East Coast states (Klang Valley — North communication line, Klang Valley — East Coast communication line).
- Next year, police hope to extend the long-range walkie-talkie system to Sabah and Sarawak.
Computer-based police reporting system
- This paperless system has been implemented in every station in Peninsular Malaysia for several years.
- However, by next year, the system will be extended to Sabah and Sarawak to ease police officers in report-taking.
- By next month, every police report on traffic and others (crime or civil cases) will be integrated into one system. This means reports will no more be labelled separately according to the case.
Police report online checking system
- Implemented on Aug 1, the system gives access to the complainant of traffic, crime or civil cases who lodges police report to check on the status, development or result of their case via online.
- The system will cut a lot of time as it is no longer necessary for victims or complainants to meet investigative officers.
