SAIFUDDIN CRITICISES MISREPRESENTATION OF POLICE STATION GATE CLOSURE ANNOUNCEMENT 

MARANG, July 10 (Bernama) -- Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has criticised the actions of those who misrepresented his statement regarding the closure of police station gates at 10 pm, calling it highly irresponsible.

“Yesterday I said close the gates, not the station (itself)...”

“If anyone wants to lodge a report, those on duty will open the gates. This does not compromise the station's duty to accept complaints. But the way it was twisted is very irresponsible,” he told reporters after attending a meet-and-greet event with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Home Ministry (KDN) staff at the Marang district police headquarters here today. 

Yesterday, in Parliament, Saifuddin Nasution said police station gates nationwide would be closed after 10 pm as a security measure following the recent attack at the Ulu Tiram police station.

In a statement today, KDN said police reports could still be made even if the station gates were closed after 10 pm. 

KDN stated that the Home Minister's response in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday principally referred to guidelines and precautionary measures for stations classified as high-risk.

“It is certainly unreasonable for this statement to be reinterpreted by some parties as a total 'gate closure' when the police are responsible for maintaining public safety and order,” the statement said.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, when contacted yesterday, said police services would continue as usual, and the public could still make complaints and reports even if the gates were closed.

-- BERNAMA