The Prime Minister should be even more worried that the anti-crime remedial measures to deal with the shocking 13.4% rise in crime index in 2007 are too little, too late as well as not tough enough in fighting both crime and causes of crime
______________
Press Statement
by Lim Guan Eng
__________________
(Petaling Jaya,
Wednesday):
Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had
expressed alarm at the
shocking rise in the crime
index with serious crimes
rising by 13.4 per cent
nationwide last year,
particularly gang robbery
without the use of firearms
rising by more than 159 per
cent and rape cases up by
about 30%. However he should
be even more worried at the
anti-crime remedial measures
proposed that are too little,
too late as well as not tough
enough in fighting both crime
and the causes of crime.
According to the latest crime
index released by the police
today, the average increase
in overall crime in 2007 is
7.1%. But the percentage of
increase in selected
breakdown of serious crimes
for 2007 will frighten
ordinary Malaysians,
especially women and
children:
•
Rape - 3,177 cases (+ 29.5%)
• Outraging modesty - 2,320
(+ 12.4%)
• Night-time home break-in -
24,440 (+ 21.7%)
• Day break-in - 9,159
(+4.2%)
• Motorcycle theft - 67,854
(+ 3.2%)
• Car theft - 12,427 (+
11.4%)
• Snatch theft - 11,127
(+0.5%)
Abdullah
government’s has failed
dismally to provide one of
the basic functions of good
governance which is public
safety. With 3,177 rapes and
2,320 outraging of modesty
cases last year, this means
that there are 8.7 rapes and
6.4 women molested daily last
year. In other words 15 women
are raped and molested a day
last year. These are only
reported figures and the
actual rapes and molest cases
could be much more as it is
generally known that for
every report lodged there are
as high as 5 unreported
cases. Such frightening
figures are unacceptable in a
civilized and caring society
such as Malaysia.
How can Abdullah talk about
acting quickly in fighting
crime by installing CCTVs in
buildings and public places
as the solution? Such action
is no different from
disclaiming responsibility
for rising crime and shifting
the burden from the police to
the public. Other measures
such as hiring more police
and setting up more police
stations have all been heard
before showing that there are
no new, original or creative
ideas by the police and the
government to fight crime.
The government can act
speedily, adequately by
adopting DAP’s twin pronged
solution which not only is
tough on crime, but also
tough on the causes on crime.
The government should accept
the recommendations of the
Royal Commission of Police by
establishing the Independent
Police Complaints and
Misconduct Commission (IPCMC)
and employing 100,000 extra
policemen to patrol the
streets.
Abdullah must concede the
tired and traditional
remedies are not working. He
must boldly admit that one of
the causes of crime is the
misconduct, widespread abuse
of power and corruption
within the police force that
cripple their ability to
combat crime. Such abuses of
power and corruption have
sapped public confidence in
the ability of the police.
The police would be the first
to admit that the battle
against crime can only be won
with the confidence and
co-operation from the public.
Only the IPCMC can overcome
this malaise within the
police force by winning back
public confidence and compel
the police to refocus on
successfully combating crime.
There are not enough
policemen patrolling the
streets and even though
employing 100,000 policemen
to patrol the streets is
costly, it is a practical and
a real solution to the
escalating crime. Doing so
may cost us an extra RM 10
billion but what is RM 10
billion when such violent
crimes cost the country more
than RM 15 billion in 2006
and may be higher more last
year. Spending RM 10 billion
to employ 100,000 extra
policemen would not only be
cost effective due to the
huge financial losses from
crime but avoid the physical
pain and injury inflicted on
innocent victims and their
families.
DAP has conducted a
nation-wide public campaign
by pressing for the adoption
of the IPCMC and employing
100,000 policemen to patrol
the streets to ensure that
Malaysians enjoy the four
basic rights of security to
work, study, live and study
in a safe environment. DAP
urges the Prime Minister to
adopt DAP’s twin proposals to
ensure that his government
fulfils his mandate and
promise to protect and
promote public safety.
(09/01/2008)
* Lim Guan
Eng,
Secretary-General of DAP |