KUALA LUMPUR — The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) will intensify patrols around schools and strengthen cooperation with the Education Ministry to ensure the safety of students and teachers, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail said today.

He said the initiative is in line with the government’s policy to enhance school security and prevent potential threats, adding that the police have been holding regular meetings with the Education Ministry to coordinate safety measures nationwide.

“We fully support the policy introduced by the government, particularly by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. We hold meetings from time to time with the Education Ministry, and as is already known, there are more than 9,000 schools across the country,” he told reporters at a press conference here today.

He said each school already has a designated liaison officer who serves as the point of contact between the school administration and the police.

Mohd Khalid added that these visits, which could take between one and five minutes per round, will be conducted by patrol cars and crime prevention units.

“To strengthen this cooperation, I have directed all state police chiefs to ensure regular patrols are carried out near schools. If necessary, police patrol units will enter school compounds to observe and assess security conditions,” he said.

He said PDRM remains committed to safeguarding educational institutions and will continue to evaluate future needs to ensure effective implementation of safety measures.

In Dewan Rakyat yesterday, Anwar said the government will move forward with plans to station police officers in school areas to ensure student safety following a rise in bullying, abuse and other school-related crimes.

Anwar added that the government would introduce guidelines to ensure police officers can monitor school environments effectively while maintaining a comfortable atmosphere for students.