Congrats Musa as new IGP  - but can Malaysians expect a safe and low-crime Malaysia, incorruptible world-class police service and IPCMC?

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Media Conference Statement
by Lim Kit Siang  
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(Ipoh, Friday) :  Congratulations to  Tan Sri Musa Hassan as the new Inspector-General of Police next  Tuesday.

But the question uppermost for Malaysians is whether Musa’s promotion would make any difference in the law-and-order situation in the country – whether they can look forward to  a safe and low-crime Malaysia, which must be regarded as the most fundamental of all human rights of Malaysians but which will also affect Malaysia as a investment centre, tourist destination and international educational hub for foreign students.

According to the parliamentary  answer given to the DAP MP for Bukit Mertajam, Chong Eng  on Tuesday, the National Crime Index has worsened in the first seven months of this year as compared to the same period last year, with 130,457 cases reported this year  compared with 117,200 cases last year, or  a 11.3 per cent increase.

The breakdown of law-and-order where the streets, public places, residential and educational institution neighbourhoods are no more safe and crime-free, has increasingly become the No. 1 worry and fear of Malaysians – something that was completely unimaginable a decade ago.

I call on Musa to announce his strategy as to how he proposes to accomplish the three most important challenges facing the police, which had been outlined by the Royal Police Commission with its 125 recommendations:

• To reduce crime and abolish the fear of crime which is destroying the quality of life of Malaysians;

• An efficient, incorruptible, human rights-sensitive, professional  world-class police service; and

• Establishment of the  Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission(IPCMC)  proposed by the Royal Police Commission  to ensure police accountability and  efficiency to carry out its priority mission to restore to Malaysians  their freedom from crime and the fear of crime.
   

(08/09/2006)