Second wave in crime-fighting

The second wave of the Government's anti-crime drive aims to prop up the feel-safe factor among the people and give more muscle to the police force. Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein talks about this push in the Government Transformation Programme in an interview with The Star.

Q: The Government promotes the fall in the crime index as a success under the Crime NKRA. However, there are still sceptics among the society.

A: When the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) was introduced in 2009, crime was a cause of concern. Hence, reducing crime was identified as a National Key Result Area (NKRA). A holistic approach was taken with specific targets or KPIs to deliver tangible results; i.e. to reduce 5% of the crime index.

The past three years have seen significant successes in the reduction of both index and street crimes. However, we realise the public remains sceptical of these achievements and have not “felt” the results. This is a challenge we understand and take seriously. This is not exclusive to our society; it's the same case in almost every society.

They say the proof of the pudding is in the eating and the Home Ministry is not only aware but has been engaging the necessary methods and approaches to ensure tangible outcomes.

Based on the current environment, what are the plans by the ministry and the police to address these issues and concerns?

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Agencies pledge to work together on transborder corruption

KUALA LUMPUR: The top brass of anti-graft agencies from all over the world are committed towards working together in the fight against transborder corruption.

“For the future, we will not only appreciate each other's problems but commit ourselves to making concerted efforts to assist and support member states,” said Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Datuk Seri Abu Kassim Mohamed.

“We all have strengths and weaknesses, but as has been shown, collaboration is not only possible, but desirable, too,” he said as the Sixth International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA) Annual Conference and General Meeting ended yesterday.

Association president Prof Cao Jianming said it was the common aspiration among member states to strengthen information exchange and promote technical assistance.

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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.

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Hisham: Focus now on managing public perception of crime

CHERAS: The Government will switch its focus from reducing the crime index to managing public perception in the second phase of the Crime NKRA.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said even with a drop in the crime index, there were still sections of public who felt unsafe.

"In the first phase of the NKRA, our focus was on reducing street crime and the crime index. For the second phase, we will be looking into managing perception.

“House break-ins and safety in malls will be given more attention," said Hishammuddin after a meeting with police heads here on Tuesday.

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Hisham: Protecting women and children to be NKRA goal

KUALA LUMPUR: Protecting women and children against violence and crime has been included as an objective in the crime reduction initiative, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said.

The Cabinet in its meeting yesterday decided to include the protection of women and children as an agenda under the National Key Results Area (NKRA) for Crime Reduction, said Hishammuddin.

There are seven NKRAs in the Government Transformation Programme (GTP), a government effort to improve its services and better meet the people's needs.

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100,000 crime fighters

KUALA LUMPUR: As many as 100,000 law enforcers will be available to combat crime under the second phase of the Government Transformation Programme (GTP), with the prevention of house break-ins and vehicle thefts as two of the key focus points.

Under the GTP Roadmap 2.0, the Reducing Crime National Key Result Area laboratory has targeted 47,000 police personnel and the rest from other enforcement agencies such as Rela and the Malaysian Civil Defence Department to be deployed whenever needed.

The number of crime hotspots will be increased from four to six, with Kedah and Perak joining Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor and Penang, assistant lab leader Asst Supt Fatimah Abdul Hamid said at the GTP Roadmap 2.0 open day yesterday.

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