State Housing Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said he was not against officers patrolling the blocks but that having them there to police the residents might be unnerving.

This follows news that a number of residential units at People’s Housing Project (PPR) flats in Kuala Lumpur have been allocated for police officers as part of efforts to curb crime and improve the safety and quality of life.

“If you were a resident of a particular housing scheme, and if policemen were constantly there to look at you, you would feel a bit violated, wouldn’t you?” he said.

“Their freedom could be curtailed. Police coming into the buildings is okay, but to have them policing you at your housing scheme, that is something else.”

Speaking at a press conference here today, Jagdeep said not all PPR residents are “criminals”.

“I think this needs further discussion.”

The first 15 PPRs in Kuala Lumpur to get police officers are in Seri Selangor, Seri Alam, Seri Sabah, Bukit Jalil, Desa Tun Razak, Seri Pantai, Pantai Ria, Gombak Setia, Seri Semarak, Desa Rejang, Air Panas, Wahyu, Beringin, Intan Baiduri and Kampung Batu Muda.

City police chief Mazlan Lazim said officers stationed at these PPRs could provide direct tip-offs on crimes and help prevent criminal activity.

A total of 1,001 people were reportedly detained for drug-related offences at low-cost flats in the city this year.

Just under 500 were in PPRs and 42 were in public housing project flats (PPAs).

As for violent crimes, 69 cases were reported in PPRs and two in PPAs.