Govt to improve public safety

PETALING JAYA: The government aims to improve public safety and security, including setting police response time at eight minutes and improving public perception.

In the mid-term review of the 11th Malaysia Plan, the government also wants greater focus on crime reduction.

The capabilities of the police and the Armed Forces will be improved through more systematic training and advanced specialised courses.

There will be more public engagements and participation in crime prevention while more police personnel will be deployed for this purpose.

There will also be an increase in surveillance at the borders with state-of-the-art technology and equipment to curb intrusions.

The public will also be encouraged to protect themselves and install theft deterrent systems in homes to prevent crime.

Malaysia Crime Prevention Foun­dation senior vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the initiatives were timely.

“It is important for the relevant agencies to take serious and conti­nuous efforts to improve public perception.

“Based on the Performance Manage­ment and Delivery Unit’s survey, most Malaysians still do not feel safe and only 10% believe that the crime index has dropped.

“Efforts to reduce the police’s response time to eight minutes and strengthen the cooperation among enforcement and security agencies should also be lauded,” he said.

Malaysians Against Rape, Assault and Snatch Theft founder Dave Avran said Malaysians were fed up with PR spiels and lip service campaigns.

“We want to see real action being taken.

“Nothing stated in this latest national safety and security plan is new,” he said.

He said the installation of theft deterrent systems in homes and businesses won’t work unless the government entices the people with incentives, such as discounts and tax breaks for installing them.