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At the tender age of 20, Zulkifli Bin Abu sat down to have a serious conversation with his parents.
It was 1988 and Zulkifli had just completed his national examinations, and was due to start his National Service with the Singapore Police Force (SPF).
While some of his friends were looking forward to furthering their studies, Zulkifli was weighing two options – how he should best serve the community, and whether he could provide a better life for his family.
“After I got my exam results, I sat down with my parents to discuss if I should further my education,” he recalled. “But because we were not well-to-do, my parents asked me to consider signing on as a regular Police officer. It was a way to do my duty to both Singapore and my family.”
Nearly four decades have passed since Zulkifli joined the SPF. He is now an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and is the Deputy Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the Ops Training Wing (Firearms) at the SPF Training Command (TRACOM).
Over the years, ASP Zulkifli has taken on a range of postings, from manning a Neighbourhood Police Post in Jurong to serving for three years in crisis-stricken Timor-Leste as part of the SPF United Nations Peacekeeping Force.
A boxing fanatic from young, ASP Zulkifli said his career trajectory in the Force has been aided by his commitment to the sport. His supervisors quickly noticed his strict training regimen and brought him into the boxing arena, where he excelled.
Still bearing the steady gaze, strict posture and calm demeanour of his youth, ASP Zulkifli said he’d represented the SPF in a number of competitions.
With his boxing days behind him, he now spends his time imparting his knowledge of firearms handling and marksmanship at TRACOM, which he joined in 1992.
In his current capacity, ASP Zulkifli helps to design training programmes that allow trainees to gain confidence and proficiency with firearms. “I wanted to develop a curriculum that can pass down our current knowledge of shooting to new officers,” said ASP Zulkifli. “I guess you could call it a passion of mine.”
The soft-spoken officer said that he feels a heavy responsibility in his role as a trainer. “There’s always pressure to train them to become good shooters and to ensure that they maintain their competencies,” he said. “My goal is to make sure the trainees are able to handle their firearm if the situation ever calls for it.”
The 57-year-old has helped train countless batches of aspiring Police officers at TRACOM. He also keeps his marksmanship skills sharp by participating in the annual Johore Shield shooting competition. “In my personal time, I like to watch expert videos on YouTube to improve my own technical skills,” he shared.
When the conversation moved towards retirement, a flicker in his eyes showed he was still coming to terms with that eventuality. Just three years shy of his 60th birthday, ASP Zulkifli said he was still struggling with the concept of wearing eyeglasses.
“Now, I bring my spectacles with me everywhere I go,” he said. “They’re like a part of me!”
Even so, he’s focused on passing on his experience and skills. “I want all our trainers to exceed, and not just maintain, our current shooting standards,” he said. “I also wish to make sure our accumulated knowledge is documented, so that it can be shared with the next generation of officers!”
