The misdirection of police resources is the reason behind the increasing crime rate in the country, said Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president R Sivarasa today.

"If hundreds upon hundreds of policemen can show up to harass a peaceful demonstration while countless more spend endless hours monitoring the opposition, who is left to patrol the streets?" he asked in a statement.

"The only reason these crimes are still rampant is because the government refuses to direct the full weight of government and police resources to combat these crimes," he added.

Responding to the recent proposal to raise police salaries and expand the force, the opposition leader hoped this would bring about a positive change.

"These new, hopefully, better paid officers must be allowed to do what they do best - patrol and protect our neighbourhoods, and apprehend the true criminals in this country.

"While we can afford to spend millions after millions of ringgit on white elephants like overseas sports centres, commissions to arms dealers and so on, modern crime-busting equipment for our police force remains too 'exorbitant' for our government," he said.

Protect the citizens

Meanwhile, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said citizens are no longer able to sit and wait for the government to take action against crime.

"If the current government is unable to provide basic security, how can we blame Malaysians for feeling like they are being subject to the law of the jungle, where they will soon have to provide for their own security?" she added in the same statement.

Wan Azizah was referring to the latest anti-crime petition being circulated among residents in the Klang Valley.

The petition was sparked off the murder of 71-year-old grandmother Sim Ah Guat, who was slashed by snatch thieves, in Teluk Pulai, Klang last month.

The petition reflected a groundswell of anger and frustration at the alarming rise in crime and urged the government to take stern action against snatch thieves.

Last Monday, a 22-year-old make-up artist, Lee Hui Ling, died during a carjacking in Johor.

The cause of death was internal bleeding in the head, which she suffered when putting up a fight with the five robbers.