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Invitation to Norian Mai to speak at crime prevention forum   Press Statement by John Chung (Kuala Lumpur, Monday):  Selangor DAP had this morning handed over an invitation letter to the Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Norian Mai, requesting his presence at the DAP forum on crime prevention entitled “The Lesson of Canny Ong – Reduce Crime and the Fear of Crime” to be held this Saturday.  The delegation was led by DAP National Publicity Secretary Ronnie Liu, Selangor DAP Secretary Ean Yong Hian Wah and myself. Unfortunately, the IGP was not able to meet us.   Instead, the invitation letter was accepted by Bukit Aman public relation officer Chief Inspector Arshad bin Mat on behalf of the IGP. He said he would pass the letter to the IGP and that we would be informed in due time as to the IGP’s availability to attend the forum.   The crime prevention forum is organized with the purpose of increasing public awareness on incidences of crime especially in housing estates and shopping complexes. We are deeply concerned by the police revelation that only 6,000 out of the 85,000 police personnel nationwide are involved in fighting crimes and that out of this small number, only half are engaged in investigation work in spite of the increasing crime rate, especially sexual offences.   Thus, we hope the IGP can personally attend the forum to answer the many critical questions involving the police force such as the efficiency and professionalism of the police in combating crime and ensuring public safety, the proper utilization and distribution of police resources as well as the low salary of police officers which give rise to bribery and corruption.   Besides the IGP, the other panelists at the forum are DAP National Chairman Lim Kit Siang, DAP Wanita Chief and MP for Bukit Mertajam Chong Eng, Women Development Collective Executive Director Maria Chin Abdullah and human rights lawyer Ramdas Tikamdas.   The forum will be held on July 12, 2003, 8.00 p.m. at the Crystal Crown Hotel, Petaling Jaya. It is open to the public and admission is free. (7/7/2003) * John Chung, Selangor DAP Organising Secretary