The Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Musa Hassan’s claim yesterday that the crime situation in Johor was under control as figures indicated the crime rate had declined by four per cent is most premature and unconvincing.
The police must not be satisfied with any improvement of the crime situation until the people in Johor Baru can feel safe in the streets, public places and privacy of their homes and be assured that they are free from crime and the fear of crime.
The people most qualified to pass judgment as to whether the crime situation in JB is “under control” are the people in the Johor capital and not the police, and such a situation must be felt by the people in JB and not artificially generated by media spins or newspaper headlines like “IGP says situation in Johor under control” (New Sunday Times 1.7.07) or “JB FOLK FEELING SAFER NOW” (NST front-page headline 30.6.07).
True, the people in JB do feel safer with the greater visibility of policemen and patrol cars in the streets these few days. But they do not want to just feel safer before the spate of brutal and horrendous crimes of abduction-robbery-gang rape in the past two months, with victims from all races, but to be fully restored their most important human rights — to be free from crime and the fear of crime, whether in the streets, public places or privacy of their homes.
The Police was in denial just two weeks ago when faced with the outrage in JB and the nation at the rampant crime and lawlessness in the Johor capital, and they will be seen to be still in denial if they claim that the crime situation is under control when the people have yet to feel so.
The Police have commendably taken the first step to come out of the denial and to regain control of the crime situation in JB, but it can only be meaningful and effective if it is part of a long-term strategy to wipe out JB’s notoriety as the capital of crime in the country and not seen as a short-term “PR exercise” to deal with the current national outcry over police failure to control and reduce crime.
The public hearing of the Parliamentary Caucus on Human Rights and Good Governance in Johor Baru on Sunday, 8th July 2007 at 2.30 pm. ( venue to be announced tomorrow) will provide an excellent forum for the people of JB and Johor to express their views on the crime situation as well as whether they are satisfied with the police measures taken so far to control and reduce crime.
#1 by smeagroo on Sunday, 1 July 2007 - 11:15 am
Just like the PM, the police are in CONTROL!
#2 by Winston on Sunday, 1 July 2007 - 12:11 pm
Back to normal?
So fast?
Just watch, the few hundred policemen disappear from the scene soon and everything will be back to square one.
It’s not that they don’t want to do a good job but they are very short of policemen.
60,000 short!!
The same thing is happening all over the country. So, if the residents of an area complained loud and furious enough, they will make a big show of putting some policemen on the ground to appease the residents.
Once the brouhaha dies down, things will be back to where they were – until the next furore!
So it goes on and on and on!
The solution? Boot out the BN and replace it with a credible party like the DAP!
#3 by hasilox on Sunday, 1 July 2007 - 4:18 pm
Don’t worry folks, Situation under control. Not by police but by criminals!
A person can beat up another person till near death in the full eyes of public and not even detained! Thanks IGP, we feel very safe now.
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,134375-1183154340,00.html?
#4 by WFH on Sunday, 1 July 2007 - 5:14 pm
The then Supreme Court before 1988 had to travel all over Malaysia to hear cases, to do the “circuit” and there are “circuit” judges.
Maybe the PDRM should create a unique special Division to travel around Malaysia, each and every time crime at whatever “hot” spots reach an alarming level? The same 400 cops plus 200 cars, can travel as a unit. By accident rather than design, their unintended first assignment was JB.
Now that the IGP has said the situation is under control. he may wish to assign the whole unit to the Klang Valley, then Penang, then Sarawak, Sabah etc..etc. Then I’m sure they will gather all the experience to justify the IGP’s announcements. How great the future for a crime free Malaysia.
When eventually the crime rates go down, this travelling Division can also double up as a modern-day revival of Sheum’s Circus (Shum Cheong Fook’s Mah Hey Tuen), my favourite local Malaysian circus in the old days. Perhaps some of us may remember them.
Unbelievable announcements by the IGP. Jumping the gun, as usual, so desperately needing news like these to prop up the “feel-good” feelings when none are justified. Bet the PM, when he opens his mouth to utter anything, will parrot the same “We’re in control of Crime” very soon.
#5 by Jonny on Sunday, 1 July 2007 - 7:13 pm
All the recent increase in police taskforce is drama-drama only. Once the show is over, it is back to normal lah.
i cant wait for the general election to come …
#6 by Cinapek on Sunday, 1 July 2007 - 10:18 pm
There was a noticeable increase of police presence in Perling, acknowledged by the Johor CPO himself as one of the more crime prone areas, for a few days early this week. The last two nights however, there were no signs of them. Instead, I saw several motorcyclists riding around without helmets on so one can assume the police must be absent for them to blatantly flout the law in this manner.
#7 by i_love_malaysia on Monday, 2 July 2007 - 1:34 am
“It’s not that they don’t want to do a good job but they are very short of policemen.
60,000 short!! ” – Winston
As usual, people believed what the gov. said even though we already have the highest ratio of police over population in the world!! If gov really need another 60,000 policemen due to inefficiency, dont they know that they need this no. few years back? dont you think this is another good example of poor planning? that’s why 4 states’ CPOs were filled only after Johari made a comment on no planning by the IGP!!
#8 by i_love_malaysia on Monday, 2 July 2007 - 1:40 am
IGP should publish the no. of criminals/ gangsters arrested and locked up permanently for good instead of just the statistics that the crime rate had declined. Why? because the criminals/gangsters are going hiding in other states as they also know that it is time for them to take cover for a while before they come back for a vengence!!
#9 by rayden on Monday, 2 July 2007 - 10:30 am
Winston :
“It’s not that they don’t want to do a good job but they are very short of policemen.
60,000 short!!”
No no,Winston, it’s not the matter of number, it’s the matter of efficiency.
All the damn policemen are good in numbers only.
Till today, i didnt see any rapist is caught.
They might have control the situation, but the culprits’ still out there.
#10 by yellowkingdom on Monday, 2 July 2007 - 9:52 pm
Uncle Kit, have you found a venue for the forum? I propose the Daiman Sports Complex (Johor Jaya) with a large badminton hall capable of holding 100 round tables for a wedding dinner. Located opposite The Store, shopping centre on Jalan Dedap 4, Taman Johor Jaya. Easy access to food and drinks from the shops and food court nearby. Ample carpark space around. I apologise for I do not have the phone number. A little out of city centre but I am sure a great response from the residents.
[Many thanks. I have just blogged that the public hearing of the Parliamentary Caucus on Human Rights and Good Governance will be held in Johor Baru on Sunday, 8th July 2007 at 2.30 p.m. at Tropical Inn, Jalan Gereja. The theme is “Fight Rising Crime”.
Please help to pass the word, by all means available, including blogs, SMS and word of mouth, to have a capacity attendance.
Let this be a people-centred, people-driven and people-empowered event. Kit]
#11 by hkgan on Tuesday, 3 July 2007 - 10:14 am
We should organize a public protest to the government if crime situations are getting worst. Have anyone thought of the root causes of these crimes? Why are they so bold these days? Where do they come from? Can these be link to pirated VCDs/DVDs? Are the police force part of the criminals? We need policeforce with brains, not just quantity. Can we get consultants from UK and USA to help us? Another thing, we should get more non bumis into police force as well.
#12 by dtam1009 on Tuesday, 10 July 2007 - 11:52 am
we only want to be living in a secure place and nothing more.
why cant we have it.
can someone there please advice ?