By Tedong Rantayy
MIRI, Aug 6: Miri Police Headquarters (IPD Miri) and Miri Central Police Station (CPS) are in dire need of upgrading and refurbishment, according to Miri Member of Parliament Chiew Choon Man.
Chiew emphasised the need for these improvements following a fire that destroyed a police quarters unit at IPD Miri last night.
Speaking to local media today after visiting Corporal Mac Royston Patrick and his family, whose unit was destroyed in the fire, Chiew noted the urgency of relocating Miri CPS from its current location at Jalan Raja to the larger IPD Miri premises at Jalan Miri-Pujut.
He pointed out that the existing site is too small 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 added.
The fire incident underscored the need for urgent safety measures, as the wiring and structural conditions at IPD Miri pose significant risks.
Similarly, Miri CPS is prone to flooding due to its dilapidated roof.
Both facilities are aging, with IPD Miri dating back to 1976 and Miri CPS from the British era, Chiew said.
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 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.
He plans to request an additional RM100,000 for immediate urgent repairs and will also seek a larger allocation in the 2025 Budget to support a major refurbishment project.
Chiew 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 Chiew intends to present it to the Minister of Home Affairs.
During his visit, Chiew handed over a donation to Mac. Also present were Miri Police Chief ACP Alexson Naga Chabu and his deputy, Supt Mohd Sabri Zainol. — DayakDaily
