Johor police to increase presence at seven key areas for Visit Johor 2026 campaign
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Among the areas included are KSL City Mall (pictured), Angsana Mall, Berjaya Waterfront, Mid Valley Southkey and Plaza Sentosa.
ST PHOTO: HARITH MUSTAFFA
JOHOR BAHRU – Seven public places around the city will have additional police presence to bolster safety and security, especially for the Visit Johor 2026 campaign, said the state’s police chief, Commissioner M. Kumar.
He added that the police aim to assure all visitors and investors that Johor is safe to visit.
“This omnipresence of police personnel is targeted in areas frequently visited by the public,” Datuk Kumar said after attending a state-level monthly police assembly on June 18.
The areas are Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (BSI) complex, Bazar Karat, KSL City Mall, Angsana Mall, Berjaya Waterfront, Mid Valley Southkey and Plaza Sentosa.
He added that the initiative, which started on June 14, involves about 80 policemen who patrol the areas and meet the premises’ owners. “This will be above and beyond our patrols conducted by our mobile patrol and motorcycle units,” he said.
Mr Kumar added that there have been no reported crime cases in all these seven places since the initiative started. He said they hope to involve personnel from the Federal Reserve Unit and marine units and expand this initiative to all 10 districts.
Urging the public to be on their guard, he said scammers are tapping artificial intelligence (AI).
“Always verify before you transfer money, even to your friends who suddenly message you asking for money.
“Their mobile phones could have been hacked, and with their contact details, scammers could be impersonating and asking for money,” he added.
Asked about a recent TikTok video of him making statements about aid channelled from an individual known as Datuk Malik, allegedly created by using AI, he said investigations are ongoing.
He stressed that the video was manipulated and false.
In his speech, Mr Kumar said for the first five months of 2025, the criminal investigations department achieved a 59.64 per cent solving rate for index crimes.
The narcotics crime investigation department arrested about 10,794 people and seized RM83.18 million (S$25 million) worth of drugs.
“During the same time, they busted 21 drug syndicates and seized some RM81.07 million worth of drugs,” he added.
During the event, he gave commendation letters to policemen and members of the media, including Star Media Group’s Johor bureau chief Nelson Benjamin. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
