BY YASMIN AHMAD KAMIL

SHAH Alam’s iconic i-City will see up to 300 auxiliary policemen stationed in stages to beef up security in the area from today.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar witnessed the signing ceremony between I-Bhd and Koperasi Polis DiRaja Malaysia Bhd at Best Western i-City, paving the way for i-City to be a pilot project for the new auxiliary police programme in Malaysia.

Under the agreement, Koperasi Polis will recruit, train and manage up to 300 auxiliary police personnel for i-City in phases.

The first phase of the programme involves 50 personnel who will report for work today.

Among those present at the launch were Koperasi Polis DiRaja Malaysia chairman Datuk Seri Syed Ismail Syed Azizan, Bukit Aman Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department director Comm Datuk Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, I-Bhd executive chairman Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong and deputy chairman Datuk Eu Hong Chew, who represented i-City.

The idea of using i-City as a pilot project to enhance the auxiliary police programme was mooted by Khalid during a visit in October last year to provide assistance to areas where the police may not have the manpower to provide effective police coverage.

Eu (right) shaking hands with Syed Ismail (in a grey blazer) after the MoU signing ceremony between i-City and Koperasi Polis DiRaja Malaysia Berhad. Looking on is I-Berhad executive chairman Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong (second from right), Khalid (centre) and Acryl (left).

The police have committed to respond within 15 minutes of receiving an emergency call.

Eu described the auxiliary police programme as a priceless security-cum-safety feature in the 30ha ultrapolis.

“i-City is poised to have 30,000 residences, 20,000 knowledge workers and 30 million visitors a year when it is fully completed,” he said, adding that it was scheduled to be completed in 10 years.

“To cater to our projected population size, we see this pilot auxiliary police programme as providing intensive and effective police coverage, befitting i-City’s status as an MSC Cybercentre, tourism destination and international park.”

The auxiliary police programme will be part of i-City’s extended townships services as the ultrapolis has been designed as an open community.

Under its current management and development agreement with the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) and Selangor government, i-City is responsible for many township services within its development zone.

“In view of the anticipated population in the near future, we believe we have recruited the right number of auxiliary police personnel,” said Eu.

He hoped the auxiliary police could render top notch service quality by virtue of them reporting to a senior ranking officer who is seconded from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).

The event saw a demonstration of self-defence moves by the auxiliary police officers.

Khalid said Bukit Aman had approved the 300 auxiliary police officers.

“As a popular tourist destination and an attraction to investors, i-City needs good security as it is a large area that is frequented by many visitors,” he said.

Khalid explained that among the objectives and functions of the auxiliary police force was to provide and enhance the safety and protection of staff and visitors, secure the company’s buildings and belongings, protect it from theft and other threats and to reduce the occurrence of crime in the area where they are deployed.

He added that the pilot project involved collaboration between corporate companies and Koperasi Polis DiRaja Malaysia, with the latter advising on management and operations, among others.

“The responsibilities of the auxiliary police force in carrying out its task are limited to areas that have been specified,” said Khalid.

Currently, there are 26,652 auxiliary police officers in 204 auxiliary policing agencies in Malaysia, with Khalid saying that this had helped lighten PDRM’s burden.

Khalid hoped more organisations or agencies would have an interest in setting up their own auxiliary police units in addition to obtaining the services provided by Koperasi Polis DiRaja Malaysia.