Thursday 20 December 2012

Government launches big bike initiative earlier to further combat crime

The Government has implemented the police motorcycle patrol initiative to further combat crime, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The Prime Minister said it was introduced to show the Government's commitment and seriousness in fighting crime.

“We are launching the police motorcycle patrol, involving 560 motorcycles, in housing estates, covering four states, 20 districts and 49 housing areas,” he said.

Najib wanted the initiative launched before the year ended, although the RM20mil initiative was slated for implementation under Budget 2013.

The motorcycle patrols, he said, would help reduce crime in housing areas and enable the police to respond faster to distress calls.

“A review of the concept will be carried out in six months,” Najib said.

“And, if found to be effective, the Government will increase the number of motorcycle patrols without the need to wait for additional allocation under Budget 2014,” he said at the launch in conjunction with the United Against Crime police community programme at Bandar Kinrara here yesterday.

Under the concept, the motorcycle patrols will adopt a two-man buddy system, operating on shifts to provide 24-hour surveillance.

The 250cc Kawasaki Ninja motorcycles are equipped with a call-set system linked to the district police station or Bukit Aman to alert the patrol unit to a distress call.

The first phase of the initiative will see 268 motorcycle patrols operating in Selangor, 145 in Kuala Lumpur, Johor (74) and Penang (73). Another 440 will be introduced next month.

Najib said that despite a reduction in the crime index, there was still a “perception gap” by the rakyat that crime was still rampant.

“Based on figures and data, we cannot deny that the national crime index on the whole, be it street crimes, has shown a reducing trend. And, we are proud that the Global Peace Index for 2011 had placed Malaysia 19th out of 153 safest countries in the world,” he said.

“However, there is still the question of perception which does not tally with the figures and data.”

He said it was unnecessary to debate on the Government's success in lowering the crime index over the past three years.

“Instead, we must take a stand that the rakyat still want us to redouble our efforts to fight crime.”

TheStar

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