A SIGNIFICANT number of retired policemen in Sarawak do not have a house of their own, despite having served the force for decades.
This is due to the high cost of houses in the state and the lack of savings of lower-ranking policemen.
This situation is prevalent throughout the state, said the President of the Malaysian Ex-Police Personnel Association (PBPM), Datuk Mokhtar Omar.
These issues were brought to the attention of Sarawak Governor Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaffar during a courtesy call by Mokhtar and the board members at the Istana Negeri in Kuching.
"There is an urgent need to have adequate housing specifically for retired policemen.
"There are many in Sarawak who cannot afford to buy their own houses.
"They do not have a house even after retirement, even after decades of protecting public security and safety.
"There should be a specific housing allocation from the state government for those in the police force as there are significant numbers of them in active service and those retiring yearly.
"They deserve a decent, affordable and comfortable house to call their own," said Mokhtar.
Making sure policemen and the retired ones can own their own house is also a way to honour their services to the state and country, he added.
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