Akta Polis 1967
Applies to: Federal Act — see s 1 (Short title and application) · Official text ↗
- Defines key terms such as 'police officer', 'arms', and 'ammunition' (s 2)
- Establishes that police officers are deemed to be on duty at all times when required to act (s 19)
- Outlines general duties including apprehending persons, protecting property, and executing warrants (s 20)
- Grants power to stop and search vehicles or persons suspected of offences or lacking required licences (s 24)
- Allows police to erect road barriers for law and order or crime prevention (s 26)
- Empowers police to regulate music in public places and control traffic routes (ss 28–29)
- Permits orders requiring persons to remain indoors for security or public order (s 31)
- Prohibits unlawful possession of police items, fake badges, or wearing police uniforms (s 89)
What this law is
The Police Act 1967 (Akta Polis 1967) is numbered Act 344 in the Laws of Malaysia. Where it applies is set out in section 1 (Short title and application).
Its long title, as printed in the official text: An Act relating to the organization, discipline, powers and duties of the Royal Malaysia Police and matters incidental thereto.
Read every section, the amendment history and the official copy on our law library page for this Act.
How the Act is arranged
- Part I — Preliminary (s 1)
- Part II — Interpretation (s 2)
- Part III — The royal malaysia police (ss 3–7)
- Part IV — Extra police officers and watch constables (ss 8–9)
- Part V — Service outside malaysia and service of police of other territories in malaysia (ss 10–12)
- Part VI — Appointment, service, etc. (ss 13–18)
- Part VII — Duties and powers of police officers (ss 19–33)
- Part VIII — Royal malaysia police volunteer reserve (ss 34–46)
- Part IX — Auxiliary police (ss 47–50)
- Part X — Royal malaysia police reserve (ss 51–67)
- Part XI — Royal malaysia police cadet corps (ss 68–73)
- Part XII — Discipline (ss 74–80)
- Part XIII — Police fund (ss 81–84)
- Part XIV — General (ss 85–100)
Part titles are from the official arrangement of sections.
Time limits in this Act
| What | Limit | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Detention of a vehicle or vessel pending enquiries | not exceeding forty-eight hours | s 24(4) |
| Duration of an order requiring persons to remain indoors | not more than twenty-four hours from the making thereof | s 31(4) |
| Further period for an order requiring persons to remain indoors if directed by the Minister | not exceeding fourteen days | s 31(4) |
Offences and penalties
| Offence | Penalty (as written in the Act) | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Failing to comply with a reasonable signal to stop before a police barrier | imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or to a fine not exceeding two thousand ringgit or to both | s 26(2) |
| Breach of rules or orders for the control of traffic | a penalty not exceeding two hundred ringgit | s 29(3) |
| General offence under this Act where no other penalty is expressly provided | a fine not exceeding five thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both | s 94 |
Laws cited on this page
| Act 344 | Police Act 1967 Akta Polis 1967 | PDF · PDF (BM) · Official ↗ |
Each law links to our mirror page: a copy of the official text captured on a known date, its version history, and the official source. Law library →
Key sections
| Provision | What it says, in plain words |
|---|---|
| s 1 | The Act applies throughout Malaysia. |
| s 2 | Defines terms like 'police officer' as any member of the Royal Malaysia Police and 'arms' to include ammunition. |
| s 19 | Police officers, extra police officers, and watch constables are deemed to be always on duty when required to act as such. |
| s 20 | Police must perform their legal duties, obey superiors, and may take lawful measures to apprehend persons, protect property, and execute warrants. |
| s 24 | Police may stop and detain persons to check for licences or search vehicles suspected of being used in offences, with limits on detention time. |
| s 26 | Police may erect barriers on public roads for law and order or crime prevention and prevent people from passing them. |
| s 28 | The Officer in Charge of a Police District or a senior police officer may regulate how much musical instruments may be played in public places. |
| s 29 | A Commissioner or Chief Police Officer may make rules for traffic order and prescribe vehicle routes for dropping off or picking up passengers. |
| s 31 | Police may order persons to remain indoors for security or public order, with specific exemptions for rulers, military, and those with written permits. |
| s 89 | It is an offence for non-police to possess police articles without explanation, manufacture fake badges, or wear police uniforms without permission. |
| s 90 | Behaving in a riotous, indecent, disorderly, or insulting manner in a police station is an offence. |
| s 94 | For offences under this Act with no other specified penalty, the punishment is a fine not exceeding five thousand ringgit, imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both. |
Worked examples
Facts. Ahmad is driving his car in Kuala Lumpur. A police officer stops him because he has reasonable grounds to suspect Ahmad is committing an offence. Ahmad cannot produce his driving licence when asked.
The law. A police officer may stop and detain a person to require them to produce a licence (s 24(1)(a)). If the person fails to produce the licence, they may be arrested without warrant unless they give their name and address and satisfy the officer they will answer any summons (s 24(2)).
Outcome. Ahmad may be arrested without warrant if he does not provide his name and address and satisfy the officer that he will answer any proceedings (s 24(2)).
Facts. Siti is driving on a public road in Penang. She sees a police barrier erected across the road. She ignores the police officer's signal to stop and drives past the barrier.
The law. Police may erect barriers on public roads for law and order (s 26(1)). Failing to comply with a reasonable signal to stop before such a barrier is an offence (s 26(2)).
Outcome. Siti is guilty of an offence and is liable to imprisonment for up to twelve months, a fine of up to two thousand ringgit, or both (s 26(2)).
Facts. Ravi, who is not a police officer, buys a realistic police badge online and wears it to a party. He has no permission from a Commanding Officer.
The law. A person who is not a police officer and who, without the permission of a Commanding Officer, unlawfully wears or displays any badge or device indicating that he is a member of the Force — other than in a stage play or theatrical performance — commits an offence (s 89(c)). Making, selling or supplying a reasonable facsimile of such a badge is also an offence (s 89(b)).
Outcome. Ravi commits an offence under s 89(c). As no other penalty is expressly provided, he is liable to a fine not exceeding five thousand ringgit or imprisonment not exceeding one year or both (s 94).
Examples are simplified illustrations with invented names; real cases turn on their own facts.
Questions & answers
Can the police stop my car without a warrant?
Yes, a police officer may stop and search a vehicle without a warrant if they have reasonable grounds to suspect it is being used in the commission of an offence (s 24(1)(b)). The vehicle should not be detained longer than is reasonably necessary to complete the search (s 24(1)(b)).
What happens if I don't have my licence when stopped?
If you fail to produce a required licence, permit, or authority when called upon, you may be arrested without warrant (s 24(2)). However, you can avoid arrest if you give your name and address and satisfy the officer that you will answer any summons or proceedings (s 24(2)).
Can the police put up barriers on the road?
Yes, a police officer may erect or place barriers on public roads if they consider it necessary for maintaining law and order or preventing or detecting crime (s 26(1)). You must comply with reasonable signals to stop before such barriers (s 26(2)).
Is it illegal to wear a police uniform?
Yes, for anyone who is not a police officer: unlawfully wearing, using or displaying a police uniform, badge or similar dress without a Commanding Officer's permission is an offence (s 89(c)). It is allowed in the course of a stage play or other theatrical performance (s 89(c)).
Can the police order me to stay indoors?
Yes, a Commissioner or Chief Police Officer may order persons to remain indoors if necessary for the security of Malaysia or public order (s 31(1)). Such an order cannot remain in force for more than twenty-four hours unless the Minister directs it to continue for up to fourteen days (s 31(4)).
What is the penalty for being disorderly in a police station?
Behaving in a riotous, indecent, disorderly, or insulting manner in a police station is an offence (s 90). Since no specific penalty is listed for this section, the general penalty applies, which is a fine not exceeding five thousand ringgit, imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both (s 94).
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Sources
Related
Your rights when arrestedCriminal Procedure CodeThe criminal process: from police report to verdictPeaceful Assembly Act 2012