KOTA KINABALU: A former chief minister has called for more to be done in order to restore confidence in public safety in the city following last week’s muggings that left two women injured.
Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee said that people have good reason to be concerned about the random violent crimes that have recently hit local people at home and on the streets in broad daylight.
“(Hence) it is high time to conduct major swoops on suspected locations where prime suspects are known to gather,” he said in a statement on Thursday (Feb 22).
“Efforts must also be made to detect transactions of stolen property and the buyers of stolen property should also be charged,” added the nominated assemblyman.
Yong said he knew of four recent cases of burglaries, at least one of which had now been solved, which he praised
the Kota Kinabalu police for their effective action.
“Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) should also be encouraged and given sufficient funds to install closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) at strategic locations to deter and, when necessary, to help in solving street crimes.
“While the people wholeheartedly support law enforcement agencies, especially the police, in fighting crime and apprehending criminals, people also expect our authorities to step up anti-crime operations,” said the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president.
An 18-year-old boy was arrested last Thursday (Feb 15) after he allegedly robbed two women within six hours in the back alley of a bank in Gaya Street here.
In the first incident, a 35-year-old clerk was assaulted and robbed of RM50 at about noon. She sustained injuries to her head and body.
The boy was arrested in the vicinity when police and passers-by caught him after he snatched a handphone from another woman.
In another incident, city police nabbed a 29-year-old man in connection with the brutal assault and robbery of a woman at about 6.30am last Friday (Feb 16).
The arrest on Sunday (Feb 18) came about after a man was captured on CCTV showing him using a stick to beat the woman during a robbery.
In the video which went viral, the woman could be seen trying to escape from the man who chased after her before dragging her away and hitting her with the stick.
