On Saturday, 18-year-old Tunku Abdul Rahman College (TARC) student Lee Kean Yip was slashed to death by robbers as he was walking back to his hostel after dinner in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur.

Five minutes later, another TARC student, 23-year-old Phang Kar Wei, also fell victim to robbers in the same area.

The incidents have enraged residents and students, who are pointing the finger at the police. They claimed that the lack of security in the area had robbed Lee of his life.

During a memorial service for Lee at TARC on Tuesday, angry voices resonated throughout the hall.

One student, who identified herself only as HP, said she has been living in Setapak for 10 years band has seen the area's safety deteriorate "from bad to worse".

HP said she and many of her friends have been targeted by snatch thieves as well.

"Every week, there are at least three incidents that involve people I know," she told the more than 1,000 people who were present at the service.

The service also served as a dialogue between the students and residents and government officials, which included Wangsa Maju parliamentarian Yew Teong Look, Deputy Internal Security Minister Fu Ah Kiow and Sentul district police chief Rodzi Ismail.

'Batteries are dead'

HP also claimed that personnel at the Wangsa Maju police station seemed to treat residents with disdain as they blamed them for the crimes that occur.

"They are reluctant to take down my report, but instead ask me why I was so careless in losing my hand-phone. I had to scream at them to take my report," she said.

Wangsa Maju Section 2 Residents' Association representative Lim Cheng Hock said he and other residents have often heard the police complain of insufficient manpower among other "lame excuses".

Recalling an incident, Lim claimed that a police officer told him that he could not call for back up as 'the batteries in his walkie talkie had not been recharged'.

"That's a very lame excuse, and we are getting sick of lame excuses. We will not accept such lame excuses anymore!" he said to thunderous applause.

Meanwhile, Rodzi was jeered by those present when he said, in response to a question, that no arrest have been made in connection with Lee's murder.

"Ladies and gentlemen, you asked me to be frank and I told you the truth. But if you want me to lie, then I could have given you bull****, but I didn't," retorted the police chief.

Coming to the police's defence, Yew said the police are working hard to execute their duties.

"I am not being apologetic for anybody," he said, when his earlier remark was also greeted with jeers.

When the emcee asked how many of those present had been victims of a crime, more than 500 hands were raised.

Yew then said he would allocate RM300,000 from the budget allocated for his parliamentary constituency for the setting-up of a CCTV system in the area.