| Short Title: | Police Act 1967 |
| Legislature: | Parliament of Malaysia |
| Long Title: | An Act relating to the organization, discipline, powers and duties of the Royal Malaysia Police and matters incidental thereto. |
| Citation: | Act 344 |
| Territorial Extent: | Throughout Malaysia |
| Enacted By: | Dewan Rakyat |
| Date Enacted: | 1967 (Act No. 41 of 1967) Revised: 1988 (Act 344 w.e.f. 6 October 1988) |
| Date Passed: | 23 August 1967 |
| Enacted By2: | Dewan Negara |
| Date Passed2: | 28 August 1967 |
| Date Effective: | Throughout Malaysia–29 August 1967, P.U. 385A/1967 Federal Territory of Labuan–16 April 1984, P.U. (A) 197/1985 |
| Bill: | Police Bill 1967 |
| 1St Reading: | 21 August 1967 |
| 2Nd Reading: | 23 August 1967 |
| 3Rd Reading: | 23 August 1967 |
| Bill2: | Police Bill 1967 |
| 1St Reading2: | 28 August 1967 |
| 2Nd Reading2: | 28 August 1967 |
| 3Rd Reading2: | 28 August 1967 |
| Amended By: | Police (Amendment) Act 1971 [Act A45] Malaysian Currency (Ringgit) Act 1975 [Act 160] Police (Amendment) Act 1976 [Act A347] Constitution (Amendment) Act 1976 [Act A354] Constitution (Amendment) Act 1981 [Act A514] Police (Amendment) Act 1981 [Act A516] Police (Amendment) Act 1987 [Act A685] Police (Amendment) Act 2012 [Act A1421] Police (Amendment) Act 2015 [Act A1495] |
| Related Legislation: | Police Ordinance [F.M. 14 of 1952] Constabulary Ordinance [Sarawak Cap. 22] Police Force Ordinance [Sabah Cap. 101] Royal Malaysia Police Act 1963 [Act 30 of 1963] Royal Malaysia Police (Amendment) Act 1966 [Act 69 of 1966] |
| Keywords: | Royal Malaysia Police, Police Volunteer Reserve Corp, Auxiliary Police |
| Status: | In force |
The Police Act 1967 (Malay: Akta Polis 1967) is the Act of Parliament governing which governs the constitution, control, employment, recruitment, funds, discipline, duties, and powers of the Royal Malaysia Police including Royal Malaysia Police Reserve and the Royal Malaysia Police Cadet Corps. It was first enacted in 1967 (Act 41 of 1967) and then revised in 1988 as Act 344 of 1988. To date, there have been several attempts of amendments for the Police Act to be more in line with the internationally accepted human rights practices.
In June 2008, there was an attempt to amend the Section 27 which did not specify the criteria and guideline to the conditions needed for permits to hold public rallies to reflect international standards. The attempted amendment was in line with proposals by the Royal Commission to Enhance the Management and Operation of the Royal Malaysia Police. Home Minister Syed Hamid Syed Jaafar Albar said the ministry agreed that applications for public rally permits must be made nine days before the date of the event and that the decision be made in three days.[1]
The Police Act has been a subject of argument as it, to certain extent, inhibits the freedom of assembly. Its allowance for the police to detain without warrant has been a constant watch by international human rights organisations.[2] In the discussion of human rights, especially the freedom of assembly, the Police Act is often cited together with other acts such as Internal Security Act, Official Secrets Act and Public Order (Preservation) Ordinance (1958) of which some allow police detention without warrant.
It specifies the scope of the duties of the Royal Malaysia Police. In the Section 3 (3) of Police Act 1967 stipulates that the duties of the Royal Malaysia Police personnel are as follows:
The Police Act 1967, in its current form (24 August 2015), consists of 14 Parts containing 100 sections and 3 schedules (including 9 amendments).