IGP: We will work towards making the public feel safer

KUALA LUMPUR: The police are aware that despite impressive national crime index statistics, many people still feel the country is not safe.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said they hoped to remove this perception in the second phase of the National Key Results Area (NKRA) of reducing crime.

“We realise that many people still feel it is not safe out there.

“We take this as a challenge and we will respond to it,” he said at a press conference after a top-level police meeting at the Royal Malaysia Police College in Cheras yesterday.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein closed the meeting.

“This (managing perception) will be the focus in the second phase of the crime NKRA,” said Ismail.

“I have spoken to the state police chiefs at the meeting and we have discussed what to do in this second phase,” added the IGP.

Hishammuddin said the issue now was no longer the crime index.

“The goal posts' have been changed due to the demands of the people.

“This will be the main focus in the second phase,” he said.

Hishammuddin added that the police would give more attention to crime at shopping mall carparks and housing areas.

“There will be more engagements with NGOs and the public.

“If lower crime statistics are still not accepted by the majority, we need a new approach which will involve more stakeholders,” he said.

Hishammuddin said the allocation in Budget 2013 to beef up the Police Volunteer Reserve and set up the Motorcycle Patrolling Unit were meant to help the Government achieve this new NKRA focus.

Regarding a High Court decision that requires the ministry to consider an application for a printing permit by news portal Malaysiakini, he said the police would leave it to the Attorney-General to decide whether to appeal against the ruling.