THE HISTORY OF LAW

ENFORCEMENT IN
MALAYSIA

CHAPTER 1

By,
Ms. Kristie Cleophas Gorotud
What is Law enforcement?
• Law enforcement is the ACTIVITY of some members of
government who act in an organized manner to enforce
the law by discovering, deterring, rehabilitating,
or punishing people who violate the rules and norms governing
that society.
• (Penguatkuasaan undang-undang adalah AKTIVITI beberapa anggota pemerintah yang bertindak secara teratur
untuk menegakkan undang-undang dengan menemukan, mencegah, memulihkan, atau menghukum orang
yang melanggar peraturan dan norma yang mengatur masyarakat itu.)
What is the role of Law Enforcement?
• Law enforcement describes the agencies and
employees responsible for enforcing laws (menguasai
undang-undang), maintaining public order (menjaga
ketenteraman awam) , and managing public safety
(mengurus keselamatan awam).

• The primary duties of law enforcement include the investigation,

apprehension, and detention of individuals suspected of
criminal offenses.
What are the primary duties of law enforcement?
(apakah tugas utama penguatkuasaan undang-
undang?)
• The primary duties of law enforcement include the investigation,
apprehension, and detention of individuals suspected of
criminal offenses. (Tugas utama meliputi penyelidikan, penangkapan, dan penahanan individu
yang disyaki melakukan kesalahan jenayah).
Brief history of the Royal Malaysia Police
1. The Straits Settlements
• - The beginnings of a modern police force can be traced back to 1807
with the introduction of the “Charter of Justice” in Penang, which
cleared the laws enforced by police. A second charter was issued in
1825. (Permulaan pasukan polis moden dapat dilihat pada tahun 1807 dengan pengenalan "Piagam Keadilan" di
Pulau Pinang. Piagam kedua dikeluarkan pada tahun 1825)

• - Police Force Ordinance enacted in 1871 and came into force the
following year until 1942. The Ordinance placed the police forces in
all three Straits Settlements (Penang, Singapore and Malacca) under
one straits Settlement Police command in Singapore (Ordinan Pasukan Polis
digubal pada tahun 1871 dan berkuat kuasa pada tahun berikutnya hingga tahun 1942. Ordinan tersebut
menempatkan pasukan polis di ketiga-tiga Negeri Selat (Pulau Pinang, Singapura dan Melaka) di bawah satu
perintah Polis Penyelesaian Selat di Singapura)
Brief history of the Royal Malaysia Police

2. Federated Malay States

• - The police forces in Selangor, Perak, Negri Sembilan and Pahang formed
between 1875 and 1888.

• - The four forces merged as the Federated Malay States (FMS) Police Force in
July 1896. It was led by a Commissioner of Police and had its headquarters at
Bluff Road Hill, the present day Bukit Aman.

• - The Police Force Enactment came into force in 1924 and gave greater clarity to
police’s role, functions and responsibilities.

• - The standard blue uniform was introduced for all states with identity of
contingents distinguished by type of button and badges
Brief history of the Royal Malaysia Police
3. The Unfederated Malay States

• - The police force in Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu were

taken over from Malay and Siamese leadership by the British to help
modernise and develop it to resemble the force in FMS.
• - However, the police force in Perlis was headed by Malay police chief
without British stewardship
Brief history of the Royal Malaysia Police
4. Sabah and Sarawak
• - Sarawak had the Sarawak Constabulary while Sabah had the North
Borneo Armed Constabulary which was known as North Borneo
Police Force after Japanese Occupation.
• - Both forces were absorbed into the Royal Malaysia Force when
Malaysia was formed in 1963.
Brief history of the Royal Malaysia Police
5. Japanese Occupation and Aftermath
• - The local police force became the arm of the Japanese military
administration during the occupation and were also used against
Chinese Malayan People’s Anti-Japanese Army.
• - After the occupation, the forces were given refresher course and
merged under one umbrella called the Civil Affairs Police Force in
September 1945.
Brief history of the Royal Malaysia Police
6. Malayanisation
• - Police force underwent Malayanisation in the 1950s when Malayans
replaced British in top posts including the Inspector-General of
Police.
Brief history of the Royal Malaysia Police
7. The Communist Threat and Independence
• - The police force grew seven-fold to 161,281 personnel at the height of
Emergency in 1950 where the Communist Party of Malaya wanted to take over
the country. They lost 5,554 men but killed 11,222 communist terrorists.
• - Important divisions were set up under the Federation of Police including the
Special Branch, the Flying Squad or Jungle Companies, VAT 69, Senoi Praaq,
comprising Orang Aslis, Police Volunteer Corps and Auxiliary Women.
• - Five departments were established to improve organisational structure
including for administration, finances, Criminal Investigation Department and
Special Branch
• - Service-oriented operations themed “Operasi Bersedia Berkhidmat” was
launched on Dec 15, 1952.
• - Became known as the Royal Federation of Malaya Police on July 24, 1958.
Brief history of the Royal Malaysia Police
8. Formation of the Royal Malaysia Police
• - Became known as the Royal Malaysia Police following the formation
of Malaysia in 1963. Singapore pulled out when nit left the Federation
in 1965.
Evolution of PDRM’s Organisation and
Operational Components
• - Police Act 1967 came into force that year, replacing the Act of 1952.
• - By 1967, there were 33,785 personnel of which 2,586 were civilian staff.
• - By 1984, it grew to 87,409 and stood at 100,632 last years, where 92,927 were
uniformed staff and rest were civilians.
• - There are currently seven departments under the Inspector General of Police:
Management; Criminal Investigation; Internal Security and Public Order; Special
branch; Narcotics; Logistics and Commercial Crimes Division.
• The major operational components of the police force include the General
Operations Force (PGA), the Marine Police, The Federal Reserve Unit (FRU), the
Special Operations Force (PGK), the Traffic Police, the Police Air Wing and the
Narcotics Department.
• - Others are the Criminal Investigation Department; the Commercial Crimes
Investigation Department; the Special Branch; the Women Police and the Police
Volunteer Reserve.
PDRM into the 21st Century
Thank you