Penang police chief Shuhaily Mohd Zain said South Australian legislator Frank Pangallo’s description of police being “incompetent and woeful” in their investigation was merely his personal opinion which he was entitled to make.

Pangallo had claimed that police were indifferent to a missing person’s report and accused cops of a “slipshod” investigation into the case.

“We take all cases seriously. If there are areas we can improve, we can sit down and discuss. Maybe I can learn something. Australia is an advanced country, perhaps they can share their experience with us,” Shuhaily said.

On Pangallo’s call for more areas to be excavated to find Jenkins’ remains, Shuhaily said police had covered most of the area. He said any further orders must come from a coroner who is set to preside over an inquest.

Parit Buntar-born Jenkins, fondly known as Anna, had been in Penang on a short holiday with her husband Frank.

Her remains were found at a housing project site in Batu Gantong on June 24 last year, 3km from where she was last seen getting off an Uber ride in Scotland Road in December 2017.

In his six-point motion unanimously passed at the South Australian parliament on Wednesday, Pangallo wanted the legislature to write to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and the foreign minister to urge Malaysia to undertake a “serious, formal investigation” into Jenkins’ death.

Shuhaily said an analysis of Jenkins’ remains – eight bones which were found at a bungalow lot in Batu Gantong in June last year – were sent for analysis in August last year, with results coming back in August this year.

He said based on the findings of the pathologists, they found no criminal elements in the case.

Shuhaily said, however, the Penang prosecution director had recommended that police seek an inquest, and an application was made on Oct 14. A court date has yet to be set, he added.

He said police had also cooperated fully with the Australian Federal Police, the high commission and the Jenkins’ family, and they were “happy” with the explanation given.