KUALA LUMPUR: Budget 2026 stands out as one of the most decisive national efforts to strengthen law enforcement and restore public confidence in security institutions, says anti-crime NGO.
Malaysians Against Rape, Assault and Snatch Thief (Marah) founder Dave Avran said the Home Ministry receiving RM21.2bil signals a serious commitment to tackling crime from the ground up.
"Allocating RM1bil for the maintenance and acquisition of assets for police and other uniformed bodies is not just about buying new vehicles and boats, it's about ensuring that officers have the tools they need to respond swiftly and safely.
"The 100 pickup trucks for intelligence and operations will enhance mobility, whilst the new Fast Patrol Vessels and a Maritime Surveillance Aircraft will significantly improve coastal and maritime security, a vital move given Malaysia's porous maritime borders," he said when contacted on Saturday (Oct 11).
Equally commendable is the RM1.5bil investment to build and upgrade facilities for the security forces, he said.
"For far too long, officers in smaller districts have had to work in outdated, inadequate conditions.
"Better infrastructure means better morale and morale directly impacts performance and integrity," he lamented.
He also said the government's plan to table the Anti-Bullying Bill is another major step forward.
"Mobilising cross-ministry resources to address bullying, especially amongst youths, is an acknowledgement that crime prevention must begin early.
"A society that tolerates bullying is one that breeds aggression, resentment and future offenders," he added.
On the digital front, the decision to draft a comprehensive Cyber Crime Bill and strengthen the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC), now directly under police control, is both timely and strategic, he stressed.
"With scams and online fraud surging nationwide, placing the NSRC under police management and funding it with RM12mil shows the government's intention to respond faster and coordinate more effectively across agencies.
"The enhanced role of police's D11 division in combating online child sexual exploitation and the RM20mil to modernise digital forensics and set up a Behavioural Science Unit is long overdue and reflects an understanding that today's criminals are increasingly digital and psychologically complex," he said.
Whilst the figures and initiatives are impressive, the funds must be managed properly and in a transparent manner, he said.
"Large budgets for asset acquisition and enforcement, if not managed transparently, can easily become fertile ground for misuse of power and corruption as has repeatedly been the case.
"Procurement for patrol boats, surveillance systems and digital equipment must be subjected to strict open tender processes," he said.
Tools like behavioural analysis systems, cyber surveillance and data integration must come with strong privacy safeguards and independent checks to prevent abuse, he cautioned.
"Transparency must be the watchword.
"Open tenders, independent audits and parliamentary oversight will determine whether these billions truly serve the rakyat or serve someone else's vested interests," he said.
