SABAH POLICE GALLERY A LIVING ARCHIVE HONOURING SACRIFICES OF NATION'S HEROES - HAJIJI

KOTA KINABALU, March 25 (Bernama) -- The Sabah State Police Gallery at the Sabah Police Headquarters here is not merely an exhibition space, but a living archive that records the history, sacrifices and commitment of the security forces in the state.

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the gallery serves as a witness to the struggles and dedication of Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) personnel in safeguarding the country's peace and sovereignty.

"I would describe this gallery as highly significant and timely, as a platform to ensure the sacrifices of our nation's heroes remain etched in memory because their services are the main bulwark of national sovereignty.

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"This gallery will become an educational centre, as a medium of historical reference for the younger generation, so that they may appreciate the value of the peace enjoyed today,” he said at the launch of the gallery here today.

As such, he said the state government would continue to support the needs of the security personnel, including logistics, facilities and welfare, to ensure the team's preparedness remains at the highest level.

"To maintain the level of integrity in service, I hope all police personnel will continue to serve with a high degree of discipline and integrity.

"Make the exhibition at this gallery serve as a source of inspiration to uphold the team's dignity. I hope this gallery will become a leading scholastic and patriotic destination in Sabah,” he said.

Hajiji also emphasised that the state's security is a crucial foundation to the stability of development and investor confidence, in line with the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 2.0 roadmap.

Meanwhile, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said the gallery not only showcases the history of the Sabah police force and policing equipment, but also preserves crucial treasures, including artefacts from 'Op Daulat’.

He said the decision to retain part of the artefacts in Sabah was made after considering the need for Sabahans to continue having access to this history.

According to him, the idea for the gallery was mooted in 2018, followed by detailed planning in 2019.

However, he said, the project had to be shelved due to the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2021, before being revived in 2022, with a RM1.15 million state government allocation.

"Realising the importance of this gallery as a critical historical archive, in 2023, the state government increased the allocation by another RM2.5 million.

"Of the total, RM2 million was set aside for the gallery's fittings, while RM500,000 was to ensure the Op Daulat Memorial in Lahad Datu stands prominently as a landmark of the bravery of the nation's heroes,” he said.

He added that the gallery completes the network of three main PDRM galleries in the country, with the other two being the Bukit Kepong Emergency Gallery in Johor and the Inspector-General of Police Gallery in Kuala Lumpur.

-- BERNAMA