The government should engage "an independent third party" to evaluate the veracity of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit's (Pemandu) statistics on crime to douse public scepticism.

gobind singh deo jalan duta court 230409 07 Puchong DAP parliamentarian and lawyer Gobind Singh Deo ( right ) recommended this today while commenting on former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan's claim of the " authorities hiding facts from the public over the country's crime rate".

In an interview with The Malaysian Insider , Musa talked about crime fighting efforts, reminding the government that "there is no need to mask crime figures".

Gobind hit out saying the accusations are "great embarrassment" and "scandalous" with the continuing "controversy" on whether or not crime rates have actually dropped.

"We are entitled to an explanation. (Prime Minister) Najib (Abdul Razak) must tell us. Is what Musa saying true? If so, why have we been taken for a ride?

"The credibility of Pemandu is now seriously in question. The government cannot sit back and remain quiet," he said.

Selangor deputy police chief A Thaiveegan He also noted that the police, particularly Selangor deputy chief A Thaiveegan ( left ), had blamed the surge in crime statistics to the repeal of the Emergency Ordinance.

"So we seem to have statistics saying one thing and the police saying another. Which is which?

"All in all, it boils down to the fact that the assurances and reassurances given to us by the government that crime is under check is not altogether true," said Gobind, adding that it is "totally unacceptable".

Related stories

Malaysia safest country in South-East Asia. Really?

IGP: Don't link EO detainees release with crime hike

Reveal full budget on crime reduction, Pemandu told

Solve car-couple's fears, IGP orders his men

Don't use the EO as a cop-out