VIDEO | 1:67 mins

As the crackdown on criminals intensifies, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said the Emergency Ordinance (EO) and Internal Security Act (ISA) would have been potent weapons in their armoury.

NONE Responding to a question at a press conference today, he said: "Oh yes, I wish these laws were back, but we only enforce the laws enacted by the lawmakers."

Both the ISA and EO, which allowed for detention without trial, were repealed by the Najib Abdul Razak administration in line with its transformation programme.

However, the police and several quarters have blamed the current escalation of the crime rate on the release of hardcore criminals previously held under the EO.

Asked why the police still want such draconian laws, Khalid replied: "Well, you say it is draconian, we didn't say it is draconian."

He said the police would employ any law available to it in fighting criminals, also defending the decision to apply the Prevention of Crime Act 1959 (PCA).

"Of course it is effective. Crime is a living thing, so we must adjust to whatever the situation is, so if we need to enact new laws and amend available laws, I think we should do it.”

On addressing concerns that the PCA is similar to the EO, Khalid said: "We are sending the message that we are serious about handling this matter; whether the EO comes back or not is not our concern. We would use all available laws, although I wish so much that the EO and ISA were back."

Quizzed on the police decision to only use the PCA on a massive scale now, after it has been on the law books for more than five decades, Khalid replied: "Why not?"

"You give me a reason why we should not use the laws which are available. Aren’t we the enforcement officers who are supposed to enforce all laws? So we are just enforcing all available laws.”

Ops Cantas to be widened

Khalid also revealed that the ongoing arrests under the operation codenamed Ops Cantas will be intensified.

"Up to this morning, we have arrested a total of 783 suspects. We are screening them and some will face action under the PCA," he said.

"We have found that (serious) crime has dropped eight percent this week, compared to before Ops Cantas was implemented. Nationwide, the crime index has dropped 3.7 percent, while the crime index involving property has reduced by 2.6 percent.”

Noting that the special operations have proved effective, he said the police will widen it to cover drug traffickers.

Khalid brushed off the allegation that criminal gangs are waging war against the police.

"It’s not possible for criminal groups to (defeat) enforcement teams. They just want to scare us. No, we won't allow that. We will not allow any criminal group to frighten us. That will not happen in this country.”