Despite the government’s perky presentation about successful efforts to reduce crime, Malaysia may have set the world record of being a country to the contrary that actually sees worsening crime situations that reach uncontrollable levels, said DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang.

Pointing to the recent shooting incidents that saw Arab-Malaysian Bank founder Hussain Ahmad Najadi murdered and MyWatch chairperson R Sri Sanjeevan seriously injured as examples, Lim said government leaders’ claim that Malaysia is the safest country in South-East Asia is clearly debunked.

He further questioned how could Malaysia descend to such depths of rising crime and deteriorating  public safety despite all the hullabaloo about the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and National Key Results Areas (NKRAs) which placed reducing crime as one of its top six priorities.

“There can be no doubt that the crime situation had worsened after the 13th general election despite having a new home minister and a new inspector-general of police, and the public launch of a ‘war against crime’ by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in the middle of last month.

“The official claim of success in reducing the crime index by 26.8 percent since the first phase of the GTP in 2009 cannot hide the fact of a growing gulf between the police’s claims and the people’s perception and fear that crime is becoming rampant,” he said.  

Lim, who is also Gelang Patah MP, said he believes Malaysia’s crime situation would not have deteriorated to the present depths as illustrated by the Sanjeevan and Najadi shootings, if the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) were formed.  

He further said that while Najib had today said that he was prepared to consider anything the police need to fight serious crimes, would the government reconsider in having the IPCMC be introduced as suggested by former Chief Justice Dzaiddin Abdullah?

“The IPCMC will go a long way not only to restore public confidence in the efficiency, independence and professionalism of the police but will make a major contribution in the war against crime, including serious crime,  by ensuring greater police commitment and professionalism,” he said.

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