PUTRAJAYA — A body mass index (BMI) of less than 28 was introduced as a condition in the promotion of officers and personnel of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) to reflect fitness and discipline as one of the force’s top priorities, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
A BMI level, beyond acting as a way to evaluate a person’s fitness standard, underscores a message to the rank and file of the discipline required of members of the police force as the nation’s biggest enforcement authority, he added.
“The message that we’re sending from the police’s leadership is that…fitness and discipline are one of our priorities, alongside proper professional expertise,” the minister told a press conference after visiting the Asia International Security Summit and Expo 2025, here, today.
Saifuddin noted that the BMI requirement, which was recently announced by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, will be applied to police personnel seeking a rank confirmation after the end of their probation or acting period.
“The arrangement that we have now for the acting position of a rank (involves) us allowing (personnel) to hold the position if they have fulfilled all requirements.
“But, for the purpose of confirming the position (to a confirmed rank), it is at this point that we will introduce the BMI requirement,” Saifuddin explained.
Razarudin recently said a BMI of less than 28 is an additional condition set for acting appointments and promotions within the force.
There has been no pushback from within the police, Saifuddin said today, adding that police personnel are continuously looking at ways to improve their health and fitness levels.
The minister recounted how Johor Baru South police chief Raub Selamat had recently told him of feeling more fit after losing around 15 kilograms by exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy diet.
“Based on my personal experience interacting with police personnel on the ground, I have found that the (BMI requirement) has been well received with positive responses” Saifuddin said.
He added that during his visits to his office at the Bukit Aman police headquarters, officers can be seen taking the stairs instead of waiting for the lift, as they aim to obtain their rank confirmation.
Medical experts told Scoop that BMI alone may not be sufficient to measure ideal health and fitness, recommending instead that additional metrics be considered to provide a more comprehensive view.
Former inspector-general of police Tan Sri Musa Hassan, meanwhile, said the police force has consistently emphasised health and fitness among its staffers, with regular health screenings conducted to ensure the effectiveness of executed duties.
Generally, a healthy BMI—calculated based on a person’s weight relative to their height—ranges between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m². A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight, while anything above 30 is classified as obese, according to the World Health Organisation. – January 19, 2025