The Home Affairs Ministry today said that police misdeeds cannot be covered up because those responsible for wrongdoings have to be charged in court.

Deputy Home Minister Zainal Abidin Zin said that any action against the police will be determined by the Attorney-General.

Zainal was replying to a question posed by Fong Kui Lun (DAP - Bukit Bintang) at Parliament today regarding the incidence of crime in the country and the number of criminals shot by police.

Fung requested for reports on investigations carried out to determine the circumstances surrounding those who had been shot dead by policemen.

He also enquired whether there had been any action taken against the policemen responsible.

Zainal said from 1998 until September this year, there had been 2,994 robbery cases in the country and 158,935 cases of petty thefts.

1998 1999 2000* Robbery 1,375 770 605 Secret society 125 97 70 Petty theft 58,000 58,953 41,982 *until Sept

He added that there had been a reduction in such cases over the past three years.

Zainal also revealed the number of suspected criminals shot dead by police was 27 in 1998, 26 in 1999 and 25 for this year.

Security is everyone's responsibility

Chang See Then (BN - Gelang Patah) queried whether the implementation of a centralised monitoring system can enhance security in residential areas since there is a lack of policemen to patrol these areas.

In reply, Zainal said that security was not only the responsibility of the police department but also of everyone in the area such as the residents' associations, Rukun Tetangga, Rela, and mosque committees.

Zainal said it was true security in residential areas could not totally depend on the police force as there were currently only 82,000 policemen.

He stressed that there must be better understanding between all groups in residential areas in order to promote better and more effective security.

"But they must not act beyond the powers accorded to them as citizens," added Zainal.