IT WAS a proud moment for 25 police officers and personnel when they were awarded commendation certificates by Johor police chief Comm Datuk M. Kumar.

The awards acknowledged their commitment and service in ensuring public safety and security.

Among the recipients was Kpl Harvinder Singh, 37, who is attached to Taman Universiti police station under the Johor Baru North police district headquarters.

The Ipoh-born cop serves in the crime prevention department of the police station in a busy Iskandar Puteri suburb.

“While out on patrol, we received information about drug trafficking activity taking place.

“We stopped a car for inspection. Inside the vehicle was a couple, and further checks found 180 packets of drugs,” Kpl Harvinder told StarMetro when met during the Johor police monthly assembly at state police headquarters in Johor Baru.

With the arrest of the two suspects, he said they were able to curb drug trafficking activities.

“I feel very proud and happy to have been presented with the certificate.”

Kpl Harvinder, who has served in the force for 15 years, never thought growing up that he would be a policeman.

“My dream was to become a doctor to save lives.

“However, fate decided that I would be able to do this wearing a policeman’s uniform, and I am very proud to do so,” he shared.

Another recipient, Sjn Mohd Fauzi Karto, 49, who is also attached to Taman Universiti police station, said this was his second commendation in his 29 years of service.

The first was presented by Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat just before he retired as Johor police chief last year.

“Receiving such a certificate from our chief makes it all worthwhile, because it shows that our work and dedication are recognised,” he said.

Inspector Abdul Usairi Saini, who is attached to Kulai police district headquarters narcotics department, received the certificate following the success of a police operation which led to the arrest of a drug trafficker earlier this year.

“Police had launched a major narcotics operation during which we had arrested a local man for possessing about 8kg of ecstasy powder.

“This certificate will surely give me the encouragement to carry out my duties well,” said the father of two from Kuching, Sarawak, who has been with the force since 2008.

Earlier in his speech, Comm Kumar congratulated recipients for playing a major role in ensuring public order and safety.

“The public is always watching. Our actions, good or bad, are constantly under scrutiny.

“As men of law, we must uphold integrity and professionalism in all that we do,” he said.

On another matter, Comm Kumar said Johor police recorded a 10.3% drop in fatal road accidents in the first four months of 2025.

However, he warned that driver behaviour remained the biggest threat to road safety.

He revealed that 33,555 road accidents were recorded during that four-month period.

Of these, 322 were fatal crashes that led to 359 deaths, a 6.75% drop from the same period last year.

“The primary cause of accidents is still the attitude of road users.

“While the statistics show a positive trend, we will not be able to significantly reduce fatal accidents without strong support and discipline from the public.

“I urge all road users to adopt a more responsible attitude and obey traffic laws,” he said.

Comm Kumar added that Johor Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department had maintained a strict approach under its total enforcement and advocacy model.

He explained that operations targeting reckless motorcyclists, street racers, drunk drivers and commercial vehicle violations continued to be a major part of the enforcement strategy.

The Jan-April 2025 period also saw 528 arrests for traffic and criminal offences, he said, with the department achieving a 91.2% investigation paper resolution rate and 85.6% prosecution rate.