TANJONG MALIM, Oct 6 (Bernama) — The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, officiated the opening of the Muallim District Police Headquarters (IPD) here today.
Also in attendance were the Raja Permaisuri of Perak, Tuanku Zara Salim; the Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Jaafar Raja Muda Musa; and the Raja DiHilir of Perak, Raja Iskandar Dzurkarnain Sultan Idris Shah.
Their Royal Highnesses arrived at 10 am, accompanied by Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail, and Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.
Sultan Nazrin also inspected the Main Guard of Honour mounted by the Federal Reserve Unit, comprising three officers and 102 personnel of other ranks, led by DSP Mohd Farid Mohd Anuar and assisted by ASP Muhammad Dahlan Dhana Abdullah. Inspector Muhammad Arwin Fazril Nor Ali was the standard-bearer.
Shamsul Anuar, in his speech representing the Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, said Muallim was not merely an administrative district unit under His Royal Highness’s patronage, but also carried a name that signified “scholar” or “educator,” reflecting Tanjong Malim’s heritage as a renowned centre of knowledge and the location of the former Sultan Idris Training College, now Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris.
He said beneath the district’s scenic beauty lay a history of struggle and sacrifice, with policing in the area dating back to April 1952, when the country was grappling with the threat posed by communist terrorists.
He said that, acting on the orders of the then-British High Commissioner General Sir Gerald Templer, the IPD administration was relocated from Tanjong Malim to Slim River following a series of ambushes that claimed the lives of security personnel and civilians.
“At that time, the police force in Slim River operated out of a small station with a strength of just one corporal and three constables. Yet, their heroic spirit never wavered.
“From a simple wooden building at Babakala Estate, the force’s mission evolved through the decades, culminating in the 1980s with the construction of a new IPD complex in Slim River to meet increasingly demanding operational needs,” he said.
Shamsul Anuar, who is Lenggong Member of Parliament, said the rapid development of the Muallim district, encompassing Tanjong Malim, Slim River, Behrang, Trolak, and Proton City, required a more dynamic level of police preparedness.
He said following the declaration of Muallim as a district a decade ago, the government took proactive steps to develop a modern IPD complex to support the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) in carrying out its increasingly challenging responsibilities.
“This project, which commenced on Dec 27, 2017, represents a government investment worth RM85 million. The complex, standing on a site spanning approximately 11.34 hectares, was fully completed on 30 June 2022.
“It is not merely an administrative building; it is an operational hub equipped with state-of-the-art technology, efficient communication systems, and conducive support facilities.
“The handover of the project on Oct 15, 2022, marked the beginning of a new era for the administration and security operations of the entire Muallim district,” he said.
— BERNAMA