Wednesday 31 July 2013

New preventive law vital

Introducing a new special preventive law is important to equip the police with enough tools to battle serious crimes, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.

He welcomed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s announcement that the new law would be tabled during the next Parliament meeting.

“I can sense the concern of the people after consecutive gun violence incidents since three or four days ago.

“Expediting the introduction of the new law is the best option to curb gun-related crimes,” he told a press conference yesterday after launching Ops Selamat in conjunction with the Hari Raya celebration.

Khalid said he also appreciated Najib’s pledge to back the police with adequate funding.


He explained that the police would boost its intelligence gathering capabilities as well as acquiring new gadgets in combating crime.

On the spate of gun violence of late, including the murder of Arab Malaysian Bank founder Hussain Ahmad Najadi and attempted murder of MyWatch chairman R. Sri Sanjeevan, Khalid said the police had stepped up efforts against gun smuggling with a number of seizures in the past few weeks.

“We realised the number of guns in the country is on the rise but we are taking action.

“We have identified that most shooting cases are connected to revenge and business dealings,” he said.

Separately, City police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mohmad Salleh said police had increased patrols in hotspot areas, including Bukit Bintang, Masjid India and Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

“There is no need to worry. The public can continue to go about shopping and go out for supper without any problem,” he told a press conference at the city police headquarters yesterday.

He said there was no such thing as random shootings as there was always a motive behind each case.

In PUTRAJAYA, Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the ministry was considering purchasing more surveillance equipment for the police force in light of the spate of street crimes.

The surveillance assets belonging to Malaysian police force was “far from complete” compared to their peers in other metropolis, he said.

He also highlighted the lack of manpower in the force, where the police to citizen ratio is 1:700.

“In New York, there is one policeman to look after every 35 residents.

“So, in this matter, I want all parties to understand and sympathise with the duties of our policemen.

“I want all NGOs who are calling on transformation in the law (and) individuals on the frontline who want various changes to understand that the situation in Malaysia is not the same as in other countries and to work together in tackling crime,” he told a press conference during a courtesy visit by Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, Miles Kupa, yesterday.

0 comments:

Post a Comment