KUCHING: Sarawak Patriot Association (SPA) chairman Datuk Dr John Lau said Sarawak is a developing state and as such needs competent officers without disciplinary issues to serve here.
“We hope these problematic rank and file men will not be posted to remote rural towns. Otherwise, we cannot imagine what these men will do there,” he said in a statement today, referring to the transfer of nine policemen now under investigation for alleged extortion in the peninsula.
Lau urged the federal authorities to analyse why its uniformed rank and file men may have been involved in extorting a businessman in Gombak Selangor.
“Are they being paid low? Does the authority have a place to rehabilitate them? Or is Sarawak a place for them to turn over a new leaf?” he questioned.
The association suggested that policemen facing disciplinary action serve in administrative roles, pending investigations, in their respective district head office or stations.
“There is no need to send them to Sabah and Sarawak as a deterrent.
“These men may be demoralised working in Sabah and Sarawak as a form of punishment.
“The problem may arise in their new stations of work. It may create further issues in Sabah and Sarawak.”
SPA urged the Sarawak government to launch a strong protest with the federal authorities so that these policemen will not be transferred to Sarawak.
Sarawak MPs must bring this issue up at the current Parliament sitting, it added.
