KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s crime rate is seeing a major drop as the movement control order (MCO) entered its seventh day on Tuesday (March 24) as some 92% of people here comply with it and take trips only to obtain daily essentials.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Zaini Jass said that crime was not a serious problem now across the state.
“It is not a problem. We are not getting any major or serious cases.
"We don’t need to think about it now, ” he told reporters after attending the state National Security Council meeting chaired by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
He however said that he did not have the immediate figures available to reflect the drop in violent crimes and house break-ins, among others.
Comm Zaini said that since the MCO came into effect, police have recorded a 92% compliance rate across the state though some remain “adamant” to leave their homes for no particular reason.
The police chief said that he observed that at one police roadblock in Penampang near here, many couples were coming out together.
“When we questioned them, they would tell us that they were sending their wife to work.
"We advised them to let the wife drive to work herself as there was no need for two persons to go out of the house, ” he said.
He also observed that many people told police that they were heading to stores that were far away from their respective areas.
“Sometimes, there are sundry shops within their own areas. There is no need to go far just to buy things, ” he said.
He said that police were not issuing summonses or taking action against people suspected of flaunting the MCO but were only advising them.
“No, we are not arresting them as some people say. We advise only.
"If someone challenges us and tries to block us from discharging our duties, then we will act, ” he said, urging people to abide by the order as it was in the best interests.
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