(Petaling Jaya, Thursday) : DAP is shocked by Federal Internal Security and Public Order deputy director Senior Assistant Commissioner I Datuk Jamaludin Khalid’s admission that the government’s intentions to increase 60,000 policemen were inadequate in reducing the increasing crime rate in the country. DAP demands that 120,000-150,000 policemen be recruited instead to increase the police to population ratio to 1:250 to effectively combat crime and ensure that the four basic rights of security to live, work, study and play in a safe and secure environment.  .

Datuk Jamaluddin had told the Parliamentary Select Committee on Integrity that 60,000 extra policemen were inadequate as the present ratio of 1 police officer to between 500 and 1,000 people should be increased to 1:250. Furthermore he doubted whether the 60,000 figure can be filled in the targeted five years because of the retirement rate of 2,000 to 3,000 policemen annually. He also said that 80% of crimes were committed by locals and not foreign workers as presumed by Malaysians.

Whether crime was committed by foreign workers or locals the point is that the police must solve such crimes and nab these criminals. The police’s failure to do so has resulted in a deteriorating crime situation in Malaysia that continues to shock Malaysians with the audacity of criminals to even break into the homes of former Inspector-General of Police Tun Hanif Omar and Tan Sri Norian Mai recently. Until today those robbers involved in 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 have still not been caught.

Nearly 9 women raped a day in Malaysia - an unacceptable statistic for a civilized nation.

If former IGP’s homes are not safe, how can the homes of ordinary citizens be safe? The police claimed that the crime situation is under control with the crime index rose by on 5.1% for the first six months of this year compared to a 15.7% rise in 2006. However if VIPs and police personnel are not even safe from robbers the reduction in crime index is meaningless.

What is more worrying is the increased incidence of rape. 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 – an increase of 33%. This works out to 8.6 cases of rape per day in the first seven months of this year as compared to four cases a day in 2003 and 6.7 cases a day in 2006 – another shocking index of the worsening crime and fear-of-crime situation in the country, bearing in mind the high percentage of unreported cases of crime.

In other words nearly 9 women are raped every day in Malaysia – an unacceptable statistic for a civilized nation that is both horrifying and repugnant. Malaysians are sick and tired of reading news headlines of young girls being raped, mutilated and killed. The police must give priority to reducing rapes by at least 50% for the next six months, failing which not only the IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan would be fully responsible but even Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah.Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Internal Security Minister cannot avoid personal responsibility.

For this reason no expense should be spared in recruiting more policemen or to ensure the safety of ordinary citizens, women and children to live, work, study and play in a safe and crime-free environment.