Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM)

A blue light flashes at the intersection, an officer in dark uniform raises a hand, and the traffic halts. Behind that everyday image stands an institution more than two centuries old — a force whose roots are older than the nation of Malaysia itself.

The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) is the national police force and the backbone of law enforcement in this country. This article explains its origins, how it is organised, the law that governs it, and who leads it today.

Where do the PDRM’s origins lie?

Modern police organisation in the Malay Peninsula did not begin in Kuala Lumpur, but in Penang. It stems from the Charter of Justice, which came into force on 25 March 1807, a document that separated judicial power from legislative power and paved the way for the establishment of a police force on the island.

Throughout the 19th century and the early 20th century, each state developed its own police force with a distinct history and semi-military function. Among the key events in the process of unification was the establishment of the Federated Malay States Police on 1 July 1896, which began to bring the separate forces together under a single framework.

After the Japanese occupation and the formation of the Federation of Malaya, the force became known as the Federation of Malaya Police. This is where the story of the “DiRaja” title begins.

Why is it called “Diraja” (Royal)?

The “DiRaja” title is a form of official recognition bestowed for the police force’s service during the Emergency.

On 24 July 1958, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Rahman Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad, was pleased to bestow the “DiRaja” (Royal) title upon the Federation of Malaya Police. The bestowal recognised the excellence and loyalty of police personnel in safeguarding the peace, harmony and order of the people and the nation.

The backdrop was the 1948-1960 Emergency, a period when police personnel defended the country against the threat of armed insurrection by communist terrorists. After the bestowal, the force became known as the “Royal Federation Police” or The Royal Federation of Malayan Police. The ceremony was also witnessed by the Deputy Prime Minister of the time, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein.

When Malaysia was formed on 16 September 1963, the unified force received the name it has kept to this day: the Royal Malaysia Police (Polis Diraja Malaysia, PDRM).

Brief timeline

Date	Event
25 March 1807	Charter of Justice in Penang — foundation of modern policing
1 July 1896	Establishment of the Federated Malay States Police
1948-1960	Emergency — police service against the communist insurrection
24 July 1958	”DiRaja” (Royal) title bestowed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong
16 September 1963	Formation of Malaysia — the name Royal Malaysia Police adopted

What law governs the PDRM?

The PDRM operates within a framework of powers laid down by law. The force is governed by the Police Act 1967 (Act 344), an act relating to the organisation, discipline, powers and duties of the Royal Malaysia Police.

This act sets out the framework for the appointment of officers and constables, the duties and powers of the police including the power to arrest and investigate, the control of public order and traffic, as well as the penalty structure for certain offences. For example, an amendment to this act sets a penalty of up to RM10,000 and two years’ imprisonment for obstructing or disobeying police directions relating to police escort duties under Section 21.

One significant amendment also appointed the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as the Honorary Commissioner-in-Chief of the Royal Malaysia Police through the new Section 6A provision.

How is the PDRM organised?

The PDRM is led by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), with headquarters at Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur. Under the central leadership, the force is divided into several main departments, each handling a specific field.

Department	Main focus
Management Department	Administration, human resources and internal management
Special Branch	Intelligence and national security
Criminal Investigation Department (JSJ)	General criminal investigation
Commercial Crime Investigation Department (JSJK)	Commercial and financial crime
Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (JSJN)	Drug and narcotics crime
Logistics and Technology Department	Equipment, assets and technological support
Integrity and Standard Compliance Department (JIPS)	Internal integrity and discipline
Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department (JPJKK)	Crime prevention and public safety
Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT)	Traffic investigation and enforcement

This arrangement enables the PDRM to handle a broad scope of duties — from neighbourhood patrols and traffic control to national security intelligence and complex criminal investigations — under a single chain of command.

Who leads the PDRM today?

The current Inspector-General of Police is Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail. For 2026, he outlined three priorities for the force: optimising artificial intelligence (AI) technology in enforcement operations; strengthening the professionalism and integrity of personnel to curb corruption and abuse of power; and prioritising the well-being of the public and police personnel in line with the Malaysia MADANI principles.

These priorities reflect the direction of a long-established institution adapting itself to modern challenges — from cybercrime to public expectations of transparency.

What can the public expect from the PDRM?

For the public, the PDRM is the first point of contact in many situations: making a police report, seeking emergency assistance, or dealing with traffic enforcement. A few useful basics:

• Police reports can be made at any police station; they become an official document for many follow-up matters.
• Hotline and headquarters: the Bukit Aman Police Headquarters is located in Kuala Lumpur and can be contacted through the official PDRM lines.
• Integrity complaints: issues of personnel misconduct are handled by the Integrity and Standard Compliance Department (JIPS).

Understanding which department handles a particular matter — traffic, commercial crime, or narcotics — can save time when you need to deal with the police.

What’s next

As a security institution, some of the PDRM’s operational details (such as tactics and deployment figures) are not disclosed publicly. For the latest official information, refer to the Royal Malaysia Police website at rmp.gov.my.

Further articles that could complete this picture include a full explanation of the Police Act 1967, the role of the Ministry of Home Affairs that oversees the PDRM, as well as a practical guide on how to make a police report. This content is an AI-generated draft that has not undergone human editorial review; verify any critical details against official sources before relying on them.