Johor brings back foot patrols to boost tourist safety
Johor police chief Datuk M. Kumar said the initiative, which resumed on June 14, involved 80 personnel conducting high-visibility foot patrols, engaging with business operators and visitors in popular tourist areas during peak hours.
"These assignments cover public hotspots and are aimed at bolstering public confidence in the state's safety," he said at a press conference at the state police headquarters today.
Kumar said the patrols were designed to project a safe and welcoming image for tourists, investors, and traders.
Officers will patrol on foot, visit business premises and engage directly with members of the public.
Motorcycle patrol units and mobile patrol vehicles will continue their usual rounds.
Kumar said public response since the relaunch had been encouraging, particularly from business owners, with peak-hour deployments timed to coincide with high footfall during office hours, lunch breaks and weekends.
"For instance, Bazar Karat (Johor Baru flea market) operates in the evenings until late at night, and that's when our presence is most noticeable. So far, no crime reports have been lodged in the areas under the omnipresence initiative," he said.
Separately, Kumar said that police were investigating a case involving the misuse of his identity through artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
"We are working with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to trace the source. No suspects have been identified as yet," he said.
The case emerged following the circulation of a doctored video showing a man resembling Kumar allegedly receiving financial aid from an individual named 'Datok Abdul Malik'. The clip was confirmed to be fake and manipulated using AI.
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