KUALA LUMPUR: Police stations nationwide have been instructed to close their gates after 10pm as part of security measures to prevent incidents like the Ulu Tiram attack from recurring.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said this was part of the government's effort to balance the need for safety and security for both police and the public.
"The directive we issued was to close the police station gates after 10pm as we need to balance safety and security.
"Police stations are places where people lodge complaints, but they are also targets now, so we need to balance both needs.
"For example, the Ulu Tiram incident involved two individuals engaging with police officers, and that was when the attack occurred," he said during minister's question time in Dewan Rakyat today.
Saifuddin said this in response to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem (GPS-Serian) on whether the government plans to increase the number of policemen in police stations for security purposes.
Meanwhile, Saifuddin added that the ministry which leads the nation's security and public safety, plays a crucial role in providing a secure and safe platform to support the country's development.
Following this, he said the police have taken steps to enhance the level of security at police stations nationwide to be more prepared for any eventualities in combating incidents of intrusion or unforeseen actions against police stations.
He also said the police have been instructed to reexamine all internal standard operating procedures to enhance security control at its premises, including the frequency of conducting patrols.
"Police have also been instructed to provide immediate reporting of information regarding the logistic conditions at each police station, including lighting, fences, and other aspects and this will go through a process for us to improve (the facilities)."
In May this year, two policemen, Constable Ahmad Azza Fahmi Azhar, 22, and Constable Muhamad Syafiq Ahmad Said, 24, were killed in the Ulu Tiram police station attack.
The attack was carried out by a 21-year-old Malaysian, who was later described as a lone wolf and not linked to any group.
The suspect also shot and injured another policeman, Corporal Mohd Hasif Roslan, before he was shot dead.