The Barisan Nasional government should be brave enough to admit that its policy on public security has failed miserably in the past years, an opposition state assemblyperson said.

This has led to an unprecedented increase in crime, especially in the cities and towns, Voon Lee Shan (DAP-Batu Lintang) told the state legislative assembly yesterday.

Instead of spending more money enhancing the country’s security system, the government spent on unnecessary projects and tasks, he said during the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor.

According to Voon, the BN government was prepared “to spend millions in sending a medical doctor with not even a degree in space science to outer space but what could this so called ‘spaceman’ do about space science and space defence for the country?"

“I wonder whether the so called ‘spaceman’ could even fly a fighter jet,” he said.

Referring to the recent spate of break-in cases of VIP homes in Kuching, the former police officer turned lawyer said thieves and robbers were more daring these days.

A state assistant minister even lost a pistol to these robbers, he said, adding that even a retired Sarawak deputy police commissioner was not spared.

Voon said that in recent years, police were hardly seen patrolling the streets and housing estates on foot.

Patrolling in police vehicles alone was not enough and at times also not practical in certain areas as there were too many places like back lane alleys not accessible by patrol cars, he said.

Helicopters used

There was also a public call for the army to help the police out in their duties, he said.

In what appeared to be a panic reaction, the police force had recently deployed helicopters to beef up surveillance and this has made Kuching to look like New York city.

“We never need helicopters before in crime prevention duties in our cities and towns and the cost of such operations will definitely dig much into our pockets,” Voon said.

The DAP rep noted that more police road blocks were set up at night but they were not properly manned.

“No bullet proof vests were used by these policemen on patrol duty and at the road blocks. There were also not enough warning lights where the road blocks, thus creating a danger to road users and the policemen on duty as well.

“Something must be done and since the fault lies with our ineffective security policy, this should be rectified in soonest possible,” Voon added.