MELAKA: The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has 11,111 vacancies for various posts as of Jan 31, says Bukit Aman Management Department director Datuk Zaini Jass.

       He said of the total, 651 were for senior posts, 9,005 for junior officers and 1,455 for civil servants.

       "Up to Jan 31, PDRM had a total workforce of 137,628, including senior police officers, junior police officers and civil servants, and vacancies exist due to difficulties in implementing training or courses to fill the posts because of Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOP) in force.

       "This year, we will train some 5,000 junior officers, taking into account the SOPs.

       "The remaining vacancies are expected to be filled by the end of next year,” he told reporters after the handover of duties of the Melaka police chief and Police Family Association (Perkep) chairman here Friday (March 18).

       He said, however, the vacancies did not affect PDRM's readiness in facing the country’s transition into the endemic phase of COvid-19 from April 1.

       On a separate matter, Zaini said any member of PDRM could apply for a transfer or to work in their home state, but it all depended on the stipulated terms and conditions.

       "Our policy does not change. They can apply and it will be given due consideration, but they have to be approaching retirement age.

       "Apart from that, there (have to be) vacancies in the state they are applying for,” he said.

       Earlier, Zaini witnessed the handing over of duties between outgoing Melaka police chief Datuk Abdul Majid Mohd Ali and his deputy Datuk Razali Abu Samah, who will now serve as the acting state police chief.

       Abdul Majid, 60, who went on mandatory retirement after serving the force for 40 years since Dec 27, 1982, said he would keep himself busy with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that focus on community welfare. – Bernama