Urgent upgrades needed for Miri police facilities, says MP

MIRI: Miri police headquarters (IPD Miri) and Miri central police station (CPS) require immediate upgrades, according to Miri Member of Parliament Chiew Choon Man.

His reaction comes in the wake of a fire that destroyed a police quarters unit at IPD Miri on Monday night.

Chiew stressed the necessity of these improvements while addressing local media today after visiting Corporal Mac Royston Patrick and his family, whose residence was destroyed in the fire.

He highlighted the urgency of relocating the Miri CPS from its current location at Jalan Raja to the more spacious IPD Miri premises at Jalan Miri-Pujut, citing the inadequacy of the current site to meet operational needs.

“Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the fire, but the incident highlights serious safety concerns for those residing in the IPD Miri quarters,” Chiew said.

“The buildings are in a worrying state, both at IPD Miri and Miri Central Police Station,” he told local media.

The fire incident underscored the urgent need for safety measures due to significant risks posed by the wiring and structural conditions at IPD Miri.

Additionally, Miri CPS is prone to flooding because of its dilapidated roof.

Both facilities are historically old, with IPD Miri dating back to 1976 and Miri CPS from the British era.

The conditions have deteriorated significantly, making comprehensive upgrades a necessity.

Chiew revealed that RM932,867 was allocated in 2023 for repairs and maintenance across five projects at Miri IPD and police stations.

This breakdown includes RM200,000 for repairs and renovations for a Child Interview Centre, RM200,000 for electrical repairs at Miri CPS, RM32,867 for maintenance of the quarters at IPD Miri by the Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR), and RM500,000 for repair and electrical wiring works in the IPD Miri quarters using the PDRM 2023 allocation.

Despite these efforts, Chiew stressed that the aging buildings require more comprehensive upgrades, and he plans to request an additional RM100,000 for immediate urgent repairs and will also seek a larger budget in the 2025 Budget to support a major refurbishment project.

He proposed relocating Miri CPS to IPD Miri, which is only 1.6km away. This move would leverage IPD Miri’s strategic position and potentially free up valuable commercial land at the current CPS site.

This plan has been considered for over a decade, and the MP intends to present it to the Minister of Home Affairs.

During his visit, he handed over a donation to Corporal Mac Royston.

Also present were Miri police chief ACP Alexson Naga Chabu and his deputy, Supt Mod Sabri Zainol.

“The welfare and safety of our city police personnel are paramount, and we must ensure they are working and living in safe, adequate conditions,” Chiew added.