Launching of a Dedicated Tourist Police Unit in Perak
Living up to its status as the “Safer Tourism Destination”, a Malaysia Tourism Council Gold Awards 2021, the Royal Malaysia Police (Polis Diraja Malaysia, PDRM) Perak Contingent stepped up its efforts to offer tourists to Perak, both domestic and international, the security they deserve when visiting the state.
Currently ranked the top state for domestic tourism, the Perak police force has established a dedicated Tourist Police Unit towards safer tourism, starting with 35 police personnel to be based in five major districts within the state, namely: Ipoh in Kinta, Batu Gajah, Kuala Kangsar, Manjung and Taiping.
Working closely with the Perak State Government and Tourism Perak, police personnel who are seconded to this unit will undergo training to familiarise themselves with the districts’ tourism products. Their ability to speak foreign languages is a plus point.
To further support this unit, Yang Berhormat Dato’ Nolee Ashilin Binti Mohammed Radzi in her position as the State Tourism Committee Chairperson has pledged to sponsor electric scooters, which will effectively create a buzz, drawing tourists’ attention to them, similar to the mounted police that are popular overseas.
As the tourism industry is being revived following Malaysia’s transition to an endemic phase in April 2022, after a battle with COVID-19 for 1.5 years, the fear of infection lingers in the minds of tourists. Generally, Malaysia has handled the pandemic well, with Perak the first state to implement the Good Practice Guide. This initiative and assurance by the authorities on safety plus security of visitors to the state with the presence of police personnel at tourist hotspots provide confidence for visitors when choosing Perak as their preferred Malaysian tourist destination.
The dedicated Perak Tourist Police Unit by PDRM Perak Contingent was launched following the Town Hall discussion on safer tourism this morning at Hotel Excelsior, Ipoh. On the panel of discussion were CP Dato’ Pahlawan Mior Faridalathrash Bin Wahid (Perak Police Chief), YB Dato’ Nolee Ashilin Binti Mohammed Radzi (State Tourism Committee Chairperson) and Cik Nurmalis Binti Musa (Tourism Perak Chief Executive Officer). The moderator was Mr. KT Pillai.
Officially establishing the Perak Tourist Police Unit is timely as the country is seeing an influx of tourists. Known as “revenge tourism” we have received more than two million international visitors since April.
Boosting tourism is not solely the promotion of what the state has to offer in terms of products, but also making guests feel welcome and safe during their stay here. This is the responsibility of all parties, from government agencies to the ordinary Perakian, to work together for a more vibrant economy.
Event: Town Hall Discussion: Semarak Pelancongan Ke Arah Pelancongan Selamat Negeri Perak & Pelancaran Unit Polis Pelancong PDRM Perak
Venue: Hotel Excelsior, Ipoh
Date: 23rd June, 2022
Time: 9.30am
