The Police Act 1967 of Malaysia is the Act of Parliament governing which governs the constitution, control, employment, recruitment, funds, discipline, duties, and powers of the Royal Police of Malaysia including Royal Malaysia Police Reserve and the Royal Malaysia Police cadet Corps. It was first enacted in 1967 (Act 41 of 1967) and then revised in 1988 as Act 344 of 1988. To date, there have been several attempts of amendments for the Police Act to be more in line with the internationally accepter human rights practices.

In June 2008, there was an attempt to amend the Section 27 which did not specify the criteria and guideline to the conditions needed for permits to hold public rallies to reflect international standards. The attempted amendment was in line with proposals by the Royal Commission to Enhance the Management and Operation of the Royal Malaysia Police. Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said the ministry agreed that applications for public rally permits must be made nine days before the date of the event and that the decision be made in three days.

The Police Act has been a subject of argument as it, to certain extent, inhibits the freedom of assembly. Its allowance for the police to detain without warrant has been a constant watch by international human rights organizations. In the discussion of human rights, especially the freedom of assembly, the Police Act is often cited together with other acts such as Internal Security Act

Internal Security Act

The term Internal Security Act is often given to a piece of legislation laying down regulations that enable the executive government of a jurisdiction to preserve the internal security of the nation...

, Official Secrets Act

Official Secrets Act (Malaysia)

The Official Secrets Act 1972 , also known as the OSA, is a statute in Malaysia prohibiting the dissemination of information classified as an official secret. The legislation is based on the Official Secrets Act of the United Kingdom...

and Public Order (Preservation) Ordinance (1958) of which some allow police detention without warrant.

It specifies the scope of the duties of the Royal Malaysia Police. In the Section 3 (3) of Police Act 1967 stipluates that the duties of the Royal Malaysia Police personnel are as follows:

1. Apprehending all persons whom he is by law authorized to apprehend;
2. Processing security intelligence;
3. Conducting prosecutions;
4. Giving assistance in the carrying out of any law relating to revenue, excise, sanitation, quarantine, immigration and registration;
5. Giving assistance in the preservation of order in the ports, harbours and airports of Malaysia, and in enforcing maritime and port regulations;
6. Executing summonses, subpoenas, warrants, commitments and other process lawfully issued by any competent authority;
7. Exhibiting information;
8. Protecting unclaimed and lost property and finding the owners thereof;
9. Seizing stray animals and placing them in a public pound;
10. Giving assistance in the protection of life and property;
11. Protecting public property from loss or injury;
12. Attending the criminal courts and, if specially ordered, the civil courts, and keeping order therein; and
13. Escorting and guarding prisoners and other persons in the custody of the police.