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Enforcement officers should help do their part in helping to stamp
out the rising crime rate in the country instead of wasting their time
in catching couples taking time out
Press Statement
by Ashvin Raj
(Petaling Jaya,
Wednesday):
There is a concern now to restore public confidence in the
professionalism and efficiency of the Municipal enforcement officers in
discharging their duties and the need to reassure the public about the
safety of car parks and public recreational spaces.
The two Kuala Lumpur City Hall enforcement officers who issued summonses to
a couple for behaving "indecently" at the KLCC Park on Aug 2 have been
rightly suspended from their official duties.
However, for Datuk Bandar Mohmad Shaid Mohd Taufek to say that
investigations into the allegation of corruption among its officers is most
worrisome. As it means that corruption has even permeated into the sphere of
intruding into the privacy of people to make money.
Mohmad Shaid said that although there was a bylaw allowing enforcement
officers to take action against those who behaved indecently at parks, they
had been ordered not to do so because of fears of abuse of power. Such a
bylaw in fact should be changed or repealed, as it is open to many
interpretations that have led to such abuse of power by enforcement officers
thus far.
DAPSY urges all Municipalities in the country to order their enforcement
officers to beef up patrols at car parks to prevent crime, instead of
keeping watch on couples holding hands or kissing.
There should be a need for enforcement by authorities to provide a safe and
secure environment for Malaysians to live, work and play, and not by way of
enforcement to the way its citizens should behave.
The local authorities should concentrate on helping to reduce crime in car
parks and other public areas, instead of treating an affectionate romantic
outing a crime which goes against the freedom of expression and the right to
privacy of its citizens.
(16/8/2003)
* Ashvin Raj, DAPSY Assistant National Publicity Secretary
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