KUALA LUMPUR: Ensuring the welfare of police personnel and having enough assets to fight crime should be the government's priority in the coming retabling of Budget 2023, says Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye (pic).
The Alliance for Safe Community chairman said welfare, especially in terms of housing for the rank and file, should be a consideration in the Budget.
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"Better housing and facilities will lead to better productivity at work.
"We also hope more funds will be allocated to acquire assets and tools to combat crime so police could discharge their duties more effectively," he said when contacted on Monday (Jan 30).
According to Lee, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani recently stated that the crime index showed a 4.1% reduction last year compared to 2021.
"However, the number of arrests for drug-related offences increased during the same period.
"All the more reason why the police should be equipped with the latest equipment and tools," he said, adding that unrelenting efforts were need to keep the country's crime rate down.
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"We need to have a dedicated and committed police force to maintain law and order in the country.
"The police should also be armed with sufficient knowledge to stay several steps ahead of criminals, especially in commercial crime scam cases," he added.
Lee also lauded the IGP's focus on strengthening integrity, improving service delivery and executing the right policies to fight crime.
"Integrity is of the utmost importance. It will in turn lead to securing the people's confidence, which is very important in fighting crime as the community and police are inseparable.
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"Both must work together and if this can be done, we can look forward to better days ahead," Lee said.
On Jan 11, the IGP announced that the crime index nationwide showed a reduction of 2,155 cases last year or 4.1% compared to 2021.
He had said a total of 50,819 cases were recorded between January and December, against 52,974 cases the year before.
