44 guns among assets reported lost by police

MALAYSIA - Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) lost 309 units of assets worth RM1.3 million ($504,000) between 2010 and last year, including 44 firearms, 29 vehicles and 156 handcuffs, the 2012 Auditor-General's Report revealed yesterday.

Some 26 walkie-talkies, 22 radios, six cameras, four computers and a handphone were among those that had gone missing.

Selangor police registered the highest number of such cases (35), followed by Penang (28) and Johor (23).

An audit check on reports of loss of assets between 2010 and last year submitted by Bukit Aman, state police headquarters and other units showed that investigations into 32 (43.8 per cent) of 73 cases detected in 2010 had been completed and were "written off", either by the Inspector-General of Police or by his deputy via their power of disposal.

In 2011, investigations were carried out on eight cases, or 17.8 per cent, of 45 cases and these eight cases had been written off.

Last year, two of 95 asset loss cases were dropped after the assets were recovered while the remaining cases were still being investigated.

"Auditing showed loss of asset management at Bukit Aman and three state police headquarters as less than satisfactory," the report said.

The report proposed a slew of measures to the police, including conducting regular checks and taking preventive steps, particularly for police assets such as firearms and handcuffs.

It also suggested that a surcharge be imposed and disciplinary action be taken against officers and personnel if the assets go missing due to theft, cheating and negligence.

In its response, PDRM said they would introduce a system to ensure that federal police are kept informed about the losses.

"The system will be developed by PDRM's Information Technology Unit and Logistics Department (LAD), with the aim of monitoring initial and final reports on missing assets, PDRM said.

Other measures included taking disciplinary action against those who failed to follow directives and regulations and sending officers and civilian officers for courses.

Police also said there was no monitoring at the state police headquarters' level as to the statistics of missing assets. In addition, there was also no coordination and streamlining of information involving loss of assets.

Police said a directive, dated June 5, 2013, had been issued to the Selangor and Johor police heads of management to streamline their records for the period between 2010 and last year.

The heads of management were also directed to submit their findings to an investigating committee. A similar directive was issued to other state police contingents the next day.

Police said a standard operating procedure on the management of asset loss will take effect in December.