MELAKA: A total of 147 police officers and rank-and-file personnel were dismissed last year due to various offences, primarily involving drug-related issues, according to Bukit Aman's Integrity and Standards Compliance Department (JIPS) director, Datuk Seri Azri Ahmad.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Azri Ahmad stated that the majority of these dismissals were linked to drug-related misconduct, with affected personnel having been convicted in court. He outlined the standard procedure followed in such cases, which involves an initial positive urine test, followed by a confirmation test conducted by a hospital pathologist. If the results are confirmed positive and the court finds the personnel guilty, dismissal is the consequent action.

Azri reiterated the department's firm stance on maintaining integrity within the force, emphasizing that there would be no tolerance for any officer or personnel involved in misconduct. "The police force serves as the protector of the community," he remarked, underscoring the importance of upholding standards during a handover of duties ceremony between Melaka police chief Datuk Zainol Samah and his acting successor, Datuk Md Nazri Zawawi.