Penang police chief Datuk Dennis Lim has told officers and constables to reject extremism, fake news and provocative content that could threaten national unity and security.
Lim spoke at the 2026 Malaysia Madani Nationhood Seminar: Aku Kasih Malaysia special programme for the Penang police contingent on 22 September, held at the Marine Police Force Region 1 community hall and jointly organised by the Penang state National Civics Academy and the police, New Straits Times reported.
The programme involved 400 personnel across two sessions, covering the role of the National Civics Academy, nationhood issues and interactive discussions. Sessions also addressed Malaysia’s history, national identity, governance system and direction, alongside the Rukun Negara and the six core values of Malaysia Madani.
Lim, 57, took command of the Penang contingent three months ago, replacing Datuk Azizee Ismail on 20 June, according to Malay Mail. He had served as deputy director for forensics and strategic planning in the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department, and has repeatedly stressed that public safety depends on cooperation between officers and local communities. Lim said personnel must stay alert to influences that could undermine public confidence and social harmony.
Lim said the effectiveness of the police force was shaped not only by operational capabilities, but also by the values, knowledge and sense of identity of its personnel.
“As such, personnel must uphold their responsibilities with honesty, integrity and professionalism, while strengthening cooperation and esprit de corps within the force,” he said.
The warning lands against a wider security picture. Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said in July that extremist and militant groups had shifted recruitment from physical meetings to online platforms, including video games such as Roblox, Malaysiakini noted. He said police could not afford to stay passive, warning that a missed warning would amount to an intelligence failure.
Lim also pushed for critical thinking in what he called an increasingly complex information environment, where false claims and provocative material can fuel division. Knowledge from the seminar should be carried into daily duties to improve service delivery and rebuild public trust in the police, he said.
The George Town programme was attended by Penang state National Civics Academy director Mohd Tarmizi Mat Bunor @ Mohamed Nadzri, Penang Special Branch chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Zakaria A. Rahim and Penang Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Helmi Aris.
Departmental and formation chiefs, district police chiefs and representatives of the state National Civics Academy also attended.
