JOHOR BARU: Police have identified 41 public and tourist hotspots within the Johor Baru South (JBS) and Johor Baru North (JBU) police districts.

       Johor police chief Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said five mobile police stations were set up in the area following the opening of the borders between Malaysia and Singapore on April 1.

       He said the main function of the mobile police stations is to act as a support service to existing police stations and police beats.

       “We had conducted Ops Khas to ensure the safety of tourists and visitors in Johor with the opening of the borders of the two countries,’’ Comm Kamarul said in a statement.

       He said Ops Khas involved 1,639 officers and policemen to monitor and control traffic flow here.

       Comm Kamarul said the mobile police stations were to help the public to deal with the police in the event of any criminal incident.

       “It also helps in curbing crime from taking place in high-risk areas,’’ he said.

       He said the mobile police stations also act as an information centre for the motorcycle patrol unit (URB) and mobile patrol vehicle unit in crime prevention duties.

       “The mobile police stations did not ‘move' as the name suggested but it acted as a ‘forward base’ for the existing police stations,’’ said Comm Kamarul.

       He added that the mobile police stations would be placed at locations where public gatherings and celebrations are being held to ensure public order and peace.