Auditor-General's Report: PDRM misplaced handcuffs, guns and vehicles worth RM1.33 million

The Auditor-General’s Report has revealed that Polis Di-Raja Malaysia ( PDRM) has lost RM1.33 million worth of assets between 2010 and 2012.

In that time, PDRM lost 156 handcuffs, 44 firearms and 29 vehicles.

The audit report also showed there is poor management of asset loss at PDRM Headquarters, and three contingent police stations in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Johor.

This is due to late reporting and investigation of lost items. Some cases were not investigated for more than three years.

The report gave two examples of misplaced firearms and bullets on the 23 March 1980 and 12 December 2002 at IPK Johor, where initial reports by the head of department was only done on 9 October 2010.

Meanwhile, the report also said that there was no proper storage area for the assets or there was no space at all.

PDRM in a reply to the Auditor General’s report has said that they will set up a a more efficient and effective monitoring system.

They will also establish a special committee to pin point the weaknesses in the system and to give feedback on how to further improve the investigation of asset loss and disciplinary measures.

PDRM’s management in a meeting on 16 May 2013 have agreed to carry out standard operating procedures (SOP) to provide a guideline on how to manage the loss of assets.

The SOP is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Police also said the delay in the asset write-off loss also occurs due to lack of knowledge and awareness among officers and members of the team regarding the actions that need to be taken in the event of loss of government assets .

To that end, PDRM has taken action to enhance their knowledge and awareness of the team on what should be done and as well as outlining the right work system to prevent this from happening again.