___________________

Press Statement

by Lim Guan Eng

________________________

(Petaling Jaya, Friday): Is internal police “civil war” between Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Ramli Yusuff and the Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hasan behind the rise in the crime index by 6.7% for the first 9 months of 2007 as compared to a 5.7% increase for the first 6 months of 2007? This internal police “civil war” was evident when more than 30 police officers attended the press conference by Ramli, supporting Ramli’s contention that he was victimized.

With public attention focused on Ramli’s fate, which has the dubious honor of being the highest ranked police officer to be charged with failing to declare his assets, there is greater concern about the inability of the police to check rampant crime. Whilst the crime index has risen by 6.7% for the first 9 months of the year, rape cases have jumped up by an even higher 33% for the first seven months of the year.

In the first seven months of this year, there were 1,814 cases of rape as compared to 1,362 for the corresponding period last year - 8.6 cases of rape per day. The number of rape cases may be much higher bearing in mind that unreported rapes are 5 times more than reported cases.

Nearly 9 women raped every day in Malaysia is an unacceptable statistic for a civilized and caring nation. It is both horrifying and repugnant when 12 year old schoolgirls taking the bus to school in Johor gets raped. Malaysians are sick and tired of reading news headlines of young girls being raped, mutilated and killed. That nearly 9 women get raped daily reflects a deteriorating crime situation as compared to four cases a day in 2003 and 6.7 cases a day in 2006. In 2006, 2,428 rapes were reported and this number is expected to increase by the end of 2007.

Even the homes of former Inspector-General of Police Tun Hanif Omar and Tan Sri Norian Mai are not safe from criminals who have broken in. Until today the murder of ex-Penang CPO and ex-Bukit Bendera Member of Parliament Datuk Albert Mah in his home in Petaling Jaya in February this year is still unresolved. If former IGPs’ homes are not safe, how can the homes of ordinary citizens be safe?

3 steps to check crime and stop BN failure to provide the right to live, work, study and play in a safe and secure environment

DAP expresses concern that the internal “civil war” in the police force has further undermined the effectiveness of the police to fight crime. Good governance requires public order and safety from crimes for all Malaysians. BN has failed with rising crime index and sexual violence against women and children. Good governance must ensure four basic right of security – to live, work, study and play in a safe and secure environment.

BN has refused to implement these 3 urgent measures to overcome the underlying causes in the police failure to provide the four basic rights of security:

1. Check widespread corruption and abuse of power by establishing the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) recommended by the Royal Commission of Police to improve police integrity and performance.

2. Double the number of police personnel by employing another 100,000 police to augment the 94,000 police force; and

3. Set a crime reduction target such reducing rapes in the next 6 months by 50% or else Inspector-General of Police will resign and the Internal Security Minister can not avoid responsibility.

Malaysians can not allow the number of rape cases to continue rising by 33%. There must be performance benchmarking to ensure that crimes and rapes are reduced or else police officers who fail to do their job must quit and be replaced by others who can perform.

Corruption and abuses of power amongst some police personnel have severely tarnished the reputation of the police force and make a mockery of its badge, “Saya anti-rasuah”. Cases involving Ramli would not have happened if there is a IPCMC. Any government should be ashamed for failing to deliver a police force that works and protects us. Malaysians have a fundamental right for our families and children be safe and ensure that criminals get caught, instead of being allowed to roam free.