Appoint Minister with 24/7 responsibility for “all-out war against crime” – give him 6 months to show results or step down from Cabinet


Today’s media coverage on the crime front has again illustrated how after up to 42% pay rise and increased allocations, the Royal Malaysian Police have failed its most fundamental duty — to keep Malaysians and visitors safe from crime and free from the fear of crime.

These are some of the crimes highlighted in today’s media:

  • A 19-year-old girl student who went to a 24-hour clinic in Ipoh at 1.20 am on Sunday morning for treatment was abducted by two parang-wielding robbers at the clinic and gang-raped; (Sin Chew)
  • A Miri woman tourist in Penang who was severely wounded when she suffered seven cuts when two armed men on a motor-bike targeted her for snatch-theft in Georgetown after supper at a hawker centre on Friday night at about 10 pm. (Nanyang)
  • An Australian businessman who makes frequent trips here becoming a snatch theft victim in Malacca in his current visit — at Taman Melaka Raya at around 8.30 pm on July 15. (The Star)

What has happened to the important recommendation of the Royal Police Commission two years ago for a sustained nation-wide drive against crime “until crime levels have reached a point considered no longer alarming”, with the immediate target of “a minimum 20 per cent decrease in crimes” within the first 12 months after the Report?

In its report submitted in May 2005, the Royal Police Commission said it was completely unacceptable that the incidence of crime had increased dramatically in the previous few years from 121,176 cases in 1997 to 156,455 cases in 2004, an increase of 29 per cent – seriously denting Malaysia’s reputation as a safe country.

Today, however, the crime situation is even worse than before the Royal Police Commission Report, shooting up by 9.7 per cent from 156,455 cases in 2004 to 171,604 in 2005, and a further 15.7 per cent in 2006 to 198,622. If there is an annual 5.11 per cent increase for 2007 as recorded for the first six months of the year, then the total crime index would break the 200,000 mark and reach a record-high of 208,772 cases!

Malaysians have lost count of the number of times Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had declared an “all-out war against crime” since becoming Prime Minister 45 months ago and Home Minister eight years ago with direct responsibility for the police portfolio — not only with completely no results, but with the opposite result of escalation of the crime wave.

This has proved to be one of Abdullah’s great failures — a responsibility which the Cabinet must fully share in the transformation of Malaysia from a safe country to a nation where crime and fear of crime have come to haunt and hound the lives of Malaysians, tourists and investors.

I call on the Cabinet to be serious about the problem of crime and fear of crime and assume full political responsibility to ensure that the many promises of the Prime Minister for an “all-out war against crime” is carried out.

The biggest weakness today is no one can be held politically responsible for the success or failure of the police to fight crime and eradicate the fear of crime.

The Cabinet should appoint one Minister to be specially in charge of an “all-out war against crime”, who is 24/7 responsible to end the menace of crime and fear of crime in the country and who must bear full political responsibility inside and outside Parliament for the success or failure of the police in this campaign.

He should be given six months to begin to show results, failing which he should be removed not only from this responsibility but also from the Cabinet.

  1. #1 by dawsheng on Monday, 23 July 2007 - 1:34 pm

    BN will never take any good advice from the opposition so not to give the opposition any credibility even if ordinary Malaysians had to be sacrifice.

  2. #2 by justice_fighter on Monday, 23 July 2007 - 1:40 pm

    Where is the PM cum Internal Security Minister Pak-tak-apa-Lah? Still happy holidaying in Australia? Still needs more honeymoon? Still making dreams?

    A wise man would have given up hope on this snoopy PM long time ago and vote for the opposition!

  3. #3 by oedipus on Monday, 23 July 2007 - 1:46 pm

    dear YB, you should make VCD download available in all DAP and Keadilan websites to explain the oppositions’ manisfesto for this coming election. that way, many of us can download and burn into VCd and distribute amongst friends etc. save you much time and effort and you get more ‘reach’ then.

  4. #4 by k1980 on Monday, 23 July 2007 - 1:47 pm

    A police constable previously earning RM1,000 will be getting RM1,420 starting this month. With the various service allowances and ‘coffee money’ thrown in, he would have almost 3 thousand ringgit to spend. Not bad for a SPM 3rd grader who most probably failed English, Mathematics and a host of other subjects.

    Now, with all that huge amount of cash to spend every month, do you seriously think he is willing to risk his life or limbs to catch criminals? If you were in his shoes, would you directly confront a gang of armed hard-core do-or-die crooks? Even the IGP would not dare to do so.

    We must follow the example of Singapore which has successfully eliminated the presence of illegal immigrants from its soil because the majority of crimes here are committed by under-employed illegal immigrants from across the Melaka Straits seeking to make a fast buck. Expel them and the crime rate will come down accordingly.

    But all the above will not be heeded by our PM who by the way, is enjoying himself in Melbourne. Do we expect foreigners to come to visit Malaysia when our own PM flies off to exotic overseas holiday locations every 2 weeks?

  5. #5 by Godfather on Monday, 23 July 2007 - 1:49 pm

    This is like a classroom. Now Uncle Kit has asked the question, but all the BN students are staring at the floor. Who is going to volunteer ? Since when has accountability been made a requisite for office ? Who has been sacrificed for non-performance, for negligence, for abuse of power, even for fraud ? As usual, we are spitting into the wind.

  6. #6 by sheriff singh on Monday, 23 July 2007 - 5:02 pm

    The Minister of Education tells everyone to “Shut Up, No talking or discussions”. Or else!! Students! Are you all paying attention? MCA! Stand on the chair!!!

    The Minister of Finance II says the country’s economy is well managed but he creates the “mother of all losses” for the country. Now he is a Tan Sri and also a Dato “Wira Utama” or something like that. I thought it was a proton car.

    The Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Arts says “Bok House has no historical or cultural value. It was merely a rich man’s house. It will cost a lot to maintain it. Tear it down”!! But for a house in Penang BRIEFLY owned by a Muslim jeweller: “It has significant historical and cultural value. The government will spend MILLIONS to purchase, restore and maintan it.” Now he wants to be Commonwealth Secretary.

    The Minister for International Trade and Industry says “I can do no wrong!! I am indispensible!! APs? What api are you all talking about? Go blame the Indonesians for the fires!! Leave my empire alone.”

    The Minister of Works, Repairs, Breakdowns, says “Hey, its not my fault. Don’t blame me. Go bark up the EPU tree!! Wooof!! Woof!!”

    The Minister of Transport says of the problems at MAS: “MAS MESSED up my flight to KK last weekend. Missed by appointments. Next time I make sure I “can fly”. Get me Fernandes, my buddy.”

    The Minister of Defence says “We will buy tracking beacons for all our planes, so that we can quickly locate the wreckages and inform the next-of-kin. As for missing ammo and explosives, hey, we are not accountants la.”

    The Minister of Internal Security says: “We have deployed 2 battalions of RELA fellows to JB. This accounts for the high crime rates elsewhere. We are short of staff but never fear, we have just called up 2 battalions of Mat Rempits and religious department officials to help cover the shortage. Meanwhile please bear with us. We apologise for the inconvenience caused. We will soon declare war yet again on the criminals. Soon. Very soon. Honest. Soon. Read my lips – Sooooon. We will make them “shiver” 366/24/7. Our IGP got them all under control.”

    The Minister for Law : “Rascist, racist racist….racist. Bodoh, bodoh, bodoh….you very bodoh. You think you are smart ah, apek?”

    The Minister of Energy, Water and Telecommunications said: “Aiyah. I retired aready la. No more energy-la. No more saliva asso. No more need to communicate la. Go disturb Dr Koh for “no comments” la!”

    Jasin : “Aiyah, close one eye-la. Both eyes also can”.

    Kinabatangan: “Eh, ada bocor lagi”.

    “God Bless Malaysia,
    Land that I love.
    Stand beside her, and guide her
    Thru the night with a light from above.

    From the mountains, to the valleys,
    To the oceans, white with foam.
    God bless Malaysia, My home sweet home,
    God bless Malaysia, My country, my home.”

    Sung to “God Bless America”.

    Only 38 days to “Merdeka”.

    Goodnight all.

  7. #7 by Jonny on Monday, 23 July 2007 - 7:54 pm

    DAP and all other opposition parties can do very well utilize on technology.

    http://www.facebook.com
    http://www.friendster.com
    http://www.ryze.com
    http://www.youtube.com

    and many countless others. we shall be more than happy to lend support.

  8. #8 by Cinapek on Tuesday, 24 July 2007 - 10:17 am

    I remember reading recently in the papers that Melaka CM Ali Rustam boasting that Melaka has crime under control.

    Next thing, there was this parang robbery of a shipment of IC chips followed by the Aussie snatch theft in Melaka.

    I have a sneaky suspicion the criminals held the PDRM in such contempt that they deliberately commit these crimes just to rub the faces of the authorities in the mud. Reminds me of the time I worked in Bangkok in the eighties when the Bangkok police chief boasted he has the city under control. The criminals went and bombed his bar the next day just to show who is boss.

  9. #9 by hitman on Saturday, 28 July 2007 - 8:01 pm

    The police no time lahhh … too busy chasing after so call cyber criminals ,spending time interriogating him with coffee and biscuits.
    easier job…. after that go and chase after criminals ahhhhh ???? , cukup masa lor …. no over time claim.

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