Published: Sunday December 13, 2009 MYT 7:01:00 PM

No firearms for police volunteers

BY ANDREW SAGAYAM

KUALA LUMPUR: No firearms will be issued to police volunteer reserve (PVR) personnel on crime prevention rounds in the 50 crime hotspots under the Government’s National Key Result Areas (NKRA).

About 3,000 PVR personnel will be deployed at hot spots identified in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor in NKRA’s aim to reduce street crime.

City Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Ku Chin Wah said PVR personnel were part-timers so there was no need for them to be equipped with firearms.

"Those entrusted with firearms must be trained well to ensure the safety of the handler and public.

"However, we are happy with the performance of the PVR personnel and will continue to monitor their work to ensure it is in line with the police force standard,” Ku said after closing a basic police course for PVR personnel from the Civil Defence Department and People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) in Bangi near here on Sunday.

He said the course was about for two months and personnel were trained only for basic policing work and not firearm usage.