Police's Special Task Force (Counter-terrorism) Department will be dissolved on February 1.

29 January 2014

Police's Special Task Force (Counter-terrorism) Department will be dissolved on February 1.

KUALA LUMPUR: The police's Special Task Force (Counter-terrorism) Department will be dissolved on February 1.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the department's responsibilities in counter-terrorism will be shouldered by the Special Branch, while investigations under the Anti-Money Laundering Act will be conducted by the police's Commercial Crime Department.

"As a part of PDRM's efforts in restructuring responsibilities and role in ensuring the country's security, we have decided to dissolve the Special Task Force and delegate its tasks between the Special Branch and Commercial Crime starting Feb 1.

"However, this does not mean that the department's role was not important. It is part of our restructuring process," he told reporters at the Bukit Aman's Senior Officer's Mess, here, earlier today.

He was there to witness the handing over of duties ceremony between Commercial Crime Department director Datuk Syed Ismail Syed Azizan, who is retiring, and Management Department director Datuk Mortadza Nazarene.

He said Mortadza's place in the Management Department will be filled by the Special Task Force (counter-terrorism) Department's director Datuk Fuzi Harun.

On the word 'Allah' issue, he said police are working closely with the Attorney -General's Chambers (AGC) in conducting investigations.

Khalid said the AGC are looking into the five investigation papers opened by the police.

He also warned public members not to fan the fire on the issue, and said that police will take stern action against those who commit provocation.

On Facebook users who posted rude remarks against Hindu devotees' Thaipusam prayers recently, he said police are working with the Multimedia Commission to trace the culprits.

He also denied rumours that a China warship had opened fire against Malaysia's security forces recently.

He said military patrol at international waters are common, and urged the public to get accurate information.

Khalid also said that police have arrested five local gangsters in Sabah in relation to the 'shooting incidents' in Kota Kinabalu recently, and believed that the case was solved with the arrests.