Sarawak Police Commissioner, Datuk Talib Jamal said the different results had occured due to the time differences between the test conducted by the narcotics department here and those done later by a police team from Kuching.

"When the first test was done (by the local narcotics police)on the persons, the drugs taken could have yet to absorb into their body system causing the results to be negative.

"The second test, meanwhile, were positive after which the drugs had absorbed and we accepted this explanations and had already charged the persons for drug abuse," he told reporters after officiating the Bintulu Marine Base Surau fencing project here Saturday.

He made these remarks when asked on a recent newsreport datelined Kuching on several narcotics policemen here being investigated following urine tests on suspected drug users that drawn different results.

"In peforming their duties, there is no element of misconduct or criminal intention. If they had not commit offence, why do we have to take action? What is reported (in the newsreport) is another point," he added.

On a positive note, Talib was happy with the recent arrest of seven persons believed to be from a car theft syndicate with one of them, believed to be the ring leader, was also wanted by police in several other divisions in connection with certain criminal cases.

He did not rule out the possibility of the gang having a link with another recently-busted vehicle theft syndicate that operates between Kuching and Lubok Antu.

The second mentioned syndicate was believed to have been crippled following the arrests of 11 persons and it was learnt that police had used the Emergency Ordinance 1969 to place those nabbed under restricted residence.

From the latest available figure this year, police in the State had busted 21 vehicle theft syndicates to which six for cars, nine for motorcycles and six specialising on lorries, vans and four wheeled drive vehicles.

So far this year, the police had employed provisions under the Special Essential Measures 1985 of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 to detain 31 persons for drugs and other violent offences.

Police observations had also revealed that some of those involved in the car thefts were also engaged in usage and distribution of drugs, with some had even caught with dangerous weapons that include firearms.

Aware of the trend, Talib assured that the police force in the State were professionally-trained and equipped to nab criminals with firearms.

"Personnel in MPVs, CID and Narcotics,to name a few, had undergone training in initial action drill (IAD), close quarter battle (CQB),
defensive and offensive shooting," he added.

In his speech earlier, Talib said the police would continue to create facilities for their personnel that could also be shared by the local community in the effort to foster closer police-public ties.

He cited the Bintulu Marine Base' Surau Arrosyidin could be utilised as a meeting place for the policemen and public, apart from being shared as a worshipping place for Muslim.

Similar concept was also applied in other police bases around the State.

The presence of the surau as well as worshipping places for other religions faithfuls could serve to instil good morals among the policemen.

Bintulu Police Chief, Supt Sulaiman Abdul Razak, the surau chairman, ASP Mohd Nazari Ismail, OCPDs from several other police districts and local senior police officers were among those present at the ceremony.