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Speech at The Launching of the Distribution of Crime Pamphlets

by Lim Guan Eng

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(Serdang, Sunday): DAP urges all Malaysians to lodge police reports of any crimes to give a true picture of the rising crime rate and serious threat to security for our society especially women, children and businesses. The crime index last year showed a 15.7% rise from 171,604 cases ub 2005 to 198,622 cases in 2006. Surprisingly states with rampant crime such as Selangor and Johor does not top the list, coming in at No. 9 and No. 10 respectively with the increase in crime index of 14.2% and 14.1%. Perlis instead topped the list with the rise in crime index of 40% as shown below.

No one believes that Perlis is safer than Selangor and Johor when rapes and robbery happens on a daily basis. DAP believes that these figures are inaccurate and fails to reflect the reality on the ground, principally because victims of crime have given up on reporting to the police. Victims of crime have given up on reporting to the police because of the unco-operative attitude and that the police seem helpless against criminals. Nothing is so evident at how ineffective the police are when thousands of Mat Rempits rule the roads on Saturday nights with the police only standing by and watching impotently. 

DAP urges the public that despite the inconvenience and the lack of confidence in the ability of the police to solve crime, they must lodge police reports so that there is no false impression that the crime situation is under control when this is not the case.  

There must be three urgent measures to restore public confidence in the police’s ability to combat crime and ensure the four basic rights of security to every Malaysian – to live, work, study and play in a safe environment. First, DAP urges the government to establish the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) as recommended by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Police.  

DAP expresses disappointment at the refusal of the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hasan to take legal action to clear his name against serious and detailed allegations of corruption and involvement in triad activities such as prostitution, loan sharking and gambling. Tan Sri Musa’s refusal to do so has only given greater credibility to the charges and raised greater suspicions of the police’s commitment to fighting corruption and abuses of power. Only the IPCMC can check police abuses and improve police integrity and performance so that the people in Selangor, Johor and Malaysia can live, study, work and play in a safe and secure neighbourhood free from crime.  

Two, the government must be prepared “outsource” by seeking help from successful police agencies from other countries, including Singapore. The government must spend whatever amount of extra money required whether RM 5 billion or more in emergency allocations to form a fighting police force that is competent, courageous, sensitive and committed to fighting criminals. The people have a basic right to a crime free environment as taxes have been paid to form an effective police force.  

Third, the Prime Minister should give up his Internal Security Ministry Post so that there can a full-time Minister handling the job. Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was severely criticized for preferring to go overseas than go to Johor Baru to personally monitor the deteriorating crime situation and motivate the police to fulfill the responsibilities. Appointing a full time Minister should spark off an attitudinal change by the police in admitting the seriousness of crime and their failure to stop rampant crime.   

If Abdullah refuses to give up the internal security ministry then he should create a new Minister of Crime Prevention that focuses on effective crime prevention and ensure the 4 basic right of security – to live, work, study and play in a safe environment.