Bodyguards On The Road

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Only a select group of VVIPs are entitled to police outriders in the country. The priority for these outriders is to ensure the safety of their charges and the public. The outriders are governed by strict regulations and if anyone of them commits any infringements, action will be taken against them. THEY are officers on the go
Their mission? To protect and ensure the safety of the VIPs they are escorting and the motorists on the road then
Top on the list to be assigned to these police outriders are the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Raja Permaisuri Agong, followed by the Sultans and the governors for Sabah, Sarawak, Penang and Melaka.

Such protocol is listed under the Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement (JSPT) Director’s Instruction SOP No. 11.

“The list also includes other members of state royal families as well as the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister,” JSPT principal assistant director (Traffic Management) Supt Gan Chip Pho says in an interview.Under the SOP Regulations, fo­reign heads of state or prime ministers are also assigned their respective outriders during official visits to Malaysia, provided that they have guest status approved by Wisma Putra, Supt Gan explains
Ministers, who represent the Prime Minister or Deputy Prime Minister for an official event or function, can also request for the Inspector-General of Police or the JSPT director to assign outriders to them
“It is up to the discretion of the IGP or the director to approve or reject such requests
“Such outriders will not be permanently assigned as it is on a case by case basis,” Supt Gan says, adding that, similar considerations would also be given to government leaders for official national events and functions
When assigning outriders, the three main factors to be considered are the VVIPs, threats as well as major national yearly events
“It is the priority of the outriders to ensure the security of their charges
“As for protection against threats, ministers such as the Home Minister and Defence Minister are accorded outriders given the level of importance and sensitivity of their positions,” he says. Outriders are also assigned to escort sensitive logistical materials for the purpose of security such as government security or military assets
“We don’t assign outriders for convoy joyrides involving cars, motorcycles, bicycles or long distance running as it does not come under the need for security
“The outriders’ main responsibility is to ensure the safety of their charges, other motorists as well as themselves,” he says
The demand for outriders will spike during major yearly national and international events
Examples of such events are Le Tour De Langkawi, Asian Games, SEA Games, Apec or Asean meetings, he explains
If organisers of competitions want outriders, then they should apply officially to the IGP or JSPT director, he adds
Two main priorities for the outriders are safety and being courteous to other road users
“They are instructed to ensure the safety of their charges as well as other road users while being courteous,” he says
Even before they are cleared fit for duty, the outriders are required to undergo a competency course and training for about one to two weeks, he says
“The training incorporates skill riding, long distance, attitude and defensive riding
“They are also sent for re-training if new motorcycles are acquired or if there are technical developments in terms of technology and other matters,” he adds
The outriders are carefully chosen for certain qualities, including endurance riding
“We conduct talent spotting at various official events and see whether certain traffic police personnel have the right qualities to be outriders
“One of our main requirements is endurance, where they are able to ride for over a long period,” he says, adding that, even a lower-rank personnel could be an outrider
However, he concedes there are a few isolated cases where the outriders were not courteous or even endangered other motorists due to stress and fatigue
“There are isolated cases but we deal with them seriously
“The police personnel involved are given a stern warning and even sent back for re-training at the Police Training College in Cheras or Police Training Centre in Kuala Lumpur
“If the police personnel still refuse to change his ways, then he will be removed from the outriders’ detail,” he says
Members of the public who encounter errant outriders can inform the police via the Volunteer Smartphone Patrol (VSP) or other means, he adds
He also reminds the public that they are required to abide by the orders of police outriders under Section 21 of the Police Act
“Under this law, it shall be the duty of the police officer to regulate, control and divert any traffic, keep order on public roads and streets and prevent obstruction on occasion of assembly and procession on public roads,” he says
Any person who obstructs or disobeys any reasonable direction given, is liable to be fined not exceeding RM200 or sentenced to imprisonment not exceeding three months or both upon conviction
“Action can also be taken under Section 79 of the Road Transport Act, where a fine between RM300 and RM2,000 can be imposed,” he adds
He also says that competition or convoy road marshals have no jurisdiction in managing traffic or ordering other motorists
“They can follow their convoy and ensure that their riders are safe and in line but they can’t instruct other motorists to move aside or any other action
“They have no jurisdiction to control, divert or regulate traffic,” he says.- Star

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