Penang police chief Khaw Kok Chin said this when commenting on a news report of a man claiming that a policeman told him to change into long pants first before he could lodge a report on a theft after his car was broken into by criminals on Thursday night.

Khaw said the department was investigating the incident and would take appropriate action against the personnel involved.

“Penang police always practise the concept of serving the community and those who come to the police station seeking help.

“So, the priority is to receive a police report and take immediate action to help a victim. It is not about appropriate or inappropriate attire when lodging a police report,” he said.

Commenting further on the matter, Khaw said based on a review, the “order” to change the trousers was made by a police volunteer reserve (PVR) member on duty at the station’s guard post at the time.

“The PVR member then referred to his supervisor, a policeman on duty at the time.

“We are conducting further investigations and will take appropriate action,” he said.

Several news portals reported that the 34-year-old complainant found his car window smashed after dining at a hawker centre in Bukit Tambun here with his family.

He lost RM800 in cash and the passport of his wife, who is a Chinese citizen. He hurried to the Simpang Ampat police station to make a report.

However, the officer on duty told the man clad in shorts to change into trousers first. The complainant said he was in shorts as he was eating out when the incident occurred and hence had rushed to the station to file a report.

After being barred from entering the police station, the man returned to the scene of the crime with his family to check the nearby bushes in the hope that the thief may have thrown away his wife’s passport.

Police later arrived at the scene. After relating the incident to the policemen, the man was urged to head to the Bukit Tambun police station where he lodged a report without any further hassle or having to change his shorts.