The Home Ministry has described as far-fetched a poll than shows only one percent of Malaysians feel safe since Musa Hassan was appointed as the Inspector-General of Police three years ago.

Deputy Home Minister Abu Seman Yusop lashed out at the opposition for exploiting the finding for a political mileage as the security and public order situation in the country was under control.

"Claims that the crime rates had shot up were incorrect as the increase is marginal since Musa was appointed as IGP on Sept 12, 2006.

"Serious crimes and property damage rose by only six percent or 12,779 cases to 209,559 in 2007 and further increased by 2,086 cases to 211,645 cases last year," he said when replying to a supplementary question by Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) at the Dewan Rakyat today.

Lim claimed that a poll conducted by the Home Ministry in July showed that only one per cent of Malaysians felt safe since Musa became the IGP as crime rates had increased.

To Lim's question on the merit of extending Musa's service as the IGP, Abu Seman said the decision was based on the requirement, performance, health and personality.

"His services are still needed to realise efforts to improve the police force under a five-year strategic plan from 2007 to 2011, which was engineered by him (Musa).

"He had achieved all target sets in his Key Performance Indicators (KPI) by the Chief Secretary to the Government," he added.

- Bernama