Media statement by Lim Guan Eng in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, 28^th July 2012: 

Police must couduct an independent and accurate assessment of crime statistics 

To successful combat the explosion of crime throughout the country, police must couduct an independent and accurate assessment of crime statistics and not rely on those compiled by themselves or the Federal government to ensure that public perception of safety corresponds with the reported drop in the crime index. Despite Home Minister claiming success in reducing the crime index, cases of kidnappings, assaults and robberies in public areas and in broad daylight have continued unabated.

Worse robbery victims include not just ordinary people but also VIPs and national politicians. The latest included the break in into the home of Malacca State EXCO member Datuk Latiff Tamby Chik who suffered losses amounting to about RM200,000, former Malacca Police Chief Datuk Ahmad Long's house and Ahmad LongĄ¯s neighbour. This has given rise to suspicion whether there was an actual drop in the crime index. For this reason, an independent third party assessment of the actual drop in crime index, if any, would instil public confidence that the crime index gives an accurate assessment of the state of crime and public safety in Malaysia.

Clearly the reported drop in crime index has not been accompanied by public confidence of increased in safety from crime. Statistics showing a drop in the crime index is irrelevant when the public perception is completely the opposite in that they do not feel safe. Even former IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan questioned the reported drop in the crime index, pointing out that if crime were not on the rise, top-ranking officials and ministers would not need to hire bodyguards.

DAP reiterates our demand that the Home Ministry employ police officers with the sole purpose of fighting crime. If necessary Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishamudin Tun Hussein Onn should redeploy the police intelligence Special Branch(SB) to fight criminals instead of spying or harrassing PR leaders. To date the he has not responded to claims that the SB had produced 382,000 reports on the political activities of Malaysian citizens and conducted 351,000 security clearance checks in 2010, based on the allocation for the force in Budget 2012.

If SB can be redeployed to produce the more than 700,000 reports on crime and criminals instead of PR leaders would not only be a proper use of the rakyat's funds but also increase public confidence that the police serves the public interest and not the political interests of UMNO or BN. All Malaysians have a right to see their mother, sister or daughter leave the home with peace of mind and see them return home safely.

If BN refuses to change and continues to allows SB to be used for selfish political purposes then the rakyat has no choice but to change the federal government. A PR Federal government would ensure that SBĄ¯s function is to collect intelligence on criminals and terrorists who rely on violence to change the government by unconstitutional means, and not be used as a weapon against opposition leaders who participate peacefully in the democratic process.

*Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary General & MP for Bagan