POLICE are looking at boosting English usage among its personnel, after Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad urged Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun to ensure his men are able to converse in the language.

Speaking at the Royal Police College today, Fuzi said that there would be an intensive English language course for senior officers and district police heads first, and then lower-ranking officers.

“We need to ensure English proficiency at all levels. There will be a beginning course for senior officers and OCPDs.

“This will be followed by rank-and-file officers. We will have 14 training centres nationwide. We want to make sure that the officers are able to write and speak well in English,” Fuzi said after officiating the English Proficiency Course at the college.

“I was personally told by the prime minister that my men have to be good at the language.”

Fuzi said that new intakes will also have to take the English language course.

The police chief however clarified that new intakes who did not excel in the language during school exams can still apply to be officers.

“New intakes will have to go for intensive English classes. We will also have debate classes for them.

“This is a new policy, but if they did not do well in their exams, they can still apply to be police officers. They will just have to attend our English classes.

“We will have English teachers from our department to teach newcomers,” he said.

However, Fuzi said his men must be given time to be able to speak the language fluently.

He said the level of English within his department was at a moderate level as the moment.

“We will start using the language more frequently, but give us some time. Once we reach a certain level, they will conduct meetings and so on in English.

“I think we are at the moderate level,” Fuzi said.

30 high-ranking officers were at the police academy today for the English course.

The course which started today, will end on Friday. It is free of charge for police personnel.

Fuzi later said that he would have to seek a bigger budget next year to expand the classes throughout the country. – August 13, 2018.