KUCHING, March 13 — The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) has been instructed to give focus on the increase of certain types of crime in Sarawak.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), as well as all heads of departments in Bukit Aman, had also been asked to look into aspects which needed improvement in order to reduce such cases.
“Certain types of crime on the rise. The number of rape cases, for example, has increased by 13 per cent, while unarmed robbery cases, by 11 per cent.
“This has become a major concern of the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) to help the police in reducing the crime rate in Sarawak and also across the country.
“We also noticed an increase in the number of several other crime cases, including motorcycle-theft and house break-in,” Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, told reporters after chairing the MCPF executive council meeting here today.
Also present were IGP Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and MCPF vice chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
The deputy prime minister said despite the rising number of several crime cases, the cooperation between Bukit Aman Police and the Sarawak Police had resulted in the 13 per cent drop in the state’s crime index.
“We found that the rates for both violent crime and property crime have decline by 13 per cent,” he said.
Nevertheless, Ahmad Zahid called on all quarters, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs), to continue helping the police to reduce the crime rates nationwide.
“I call on all NGOs, especially those which were set up to help the police to combat crimes, either under the MCPF patronage or not, to continue intensifying their efforts for better results,” he added. — Bernama
