Former OCPD uses kites as a crime-fighting agenda

MELAKA: The kite game was used as a platform by the minister, who is also the former Putrajaya District Police Chief ACP (B) Mohd Fadzil Ali to promote the crime fighting agenda in the community.

Mohd Fadzil, 62, said he did the initiative not only because of his hobby for the past 21 years, but also to bring the police closer to the community.

He, who is also a member of the Johor Kite Association, said the kites that are brought to every carnival contain elements of policing such as members of the Motorcycle Patrol Unit and police patrol cars. In fact, the Rakan Cop logo was also specially ordered from overseas such as New Zealand, China, and Indonesia.

“For the past 21 years, I have owned more than 30 kites containing elements of policing and all of them are giant in size, which were raised to promote the Royal Malaysian Police in line with the motto ‘Polis dan Rakyat Berpisah Tiada’.

“I also took the kite to the international kite festival I participated in abroad. So far, I have explored nine countries with this mission, including France, India, Thailand and Qatar,” he told Bernama when met in Klebang here yesterday.

He said this when met at the Entrepreneurs’ Carnival @ Melaka International Kite Festival 2024 which lasted for three days from Saturday. This festival brings together more than 100 local and international artists, including from Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore.

Mohd Fadzil said that in addition, the effort was done to eliminate the stigma or perception of some foreign communities who consider the police in this country to be rude, cruel and violent.

For Mohd Fadzil, free time after retirement gives him the opportunity to be more active in kite flying, both at home and abroad.

In the meantime, although there are some people who disparage the kite game as a useless hobby, but for him it is an activity that can unite people of various races and ages.

“Kite games are the best medium for sharing culture, art, making acquaintances and exchanging ideas related to the variety of kites that each guest brings in terms of theme, shape and size, including traditional kites such as kites.

“This game also fosters a high degree of patience among kitesurfers, because it can only be played when there is wind, and proper technique is required to control the kite,” he said.