Reduced Crime Rates? Think Again.
Last week, on February 1st, 2010, as I was walking in Hartamas, two men on a motorcycle came from behind me, grabbed my bag, and rode off. It happened in less than 5 seconds – just like that. I had my phone, car keys, house key, purse with all the important documents, my ASB book and various miscellaneous girly items. Everyone was relieved I wasn’t hurt, as so many others have fallen into ditches, scraped their knees and elbows, gotten slashed by parangs, knocked their heads on tar roads – to an extent some had lost their lives to this petty crime.
As this happened, where was the police? Where was anyone to help me? The ‘ane’ from Agros stood helplessly as the men rode off. I had to walk a few hundred metres, frustrated and crying, all the way to the Mont Kiara Police Station to make my report.
2 hours later, I found out that the 7 Eleven store in Hartamas was robbed by two men on a motorcycle. Possibly the same men, possibly not.
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 — The Government Transformation Programme (GTP) registered an excellent early performance in the National Key Results Areas (NKRA) when it charted a 13 per cent reduction in street crimes last month.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the street crime rate for the fourth quarter of 2009 fell by 7.6 per cent while the crime rate dropped by 3.7 per cent in the last quarter ending December.
News like this makes me want to puke in the faces of our ministers. Are you seriously blind?
A foreigner got shot in Sunrise, Mont Kiara last year when he tried to help a woman whose bag was being snatched. The Bukit Kiara Police Station WAS RIGHT IN FRONT.
American Hero in Stable Condition
Do you really think thieves are scared of the police? Do you think that by having road blocks all over the place you can really reduce crime? Do you truly understand the root of these petty crimes? Poverty. Drug abuse. What have you done to address poverty systematically, efficiently and effectively?
The Police/Traffic Force is heightening road blocks, OPS Sikaps and catching speedsters with fancy new gadgets, but where are the police patrolling the neighbourhoods? What fancy new gadgets have they invented to catch getaway thieves on motor kapcai?
In an effort to meet that target, several initiatives have been implemented including ensuring the presence of police at 50 hot-spots backed up by 3,000 trained Civil Defence and Rela personnel and having 500 closed-circuit cameras in those areas to deter crime.
Wow. Impressive. I feel so safe now.
I just feel like by releasing articles such as the above, the Government is giving a false impression that the country is safe. Someone I know has to house-sit and miss a diving trip because his house was broken into before. Just this afternoon, 2 cars were jacked in front of a row of shop lots near my house. Crime rates escalate especially nearing public holidays like Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and others.
Our government should not slack just because there is a drop in crime rates of 13% and are ‘awed’ by it. The government must persevere until we can truly feel safe to walk on the streets of our neighbourhoods again. The Police Force should do more than just sit at the counter writing reports. Rounds shouldn’t take place between 10-5, or any given time, but continuously.
Taking measures into my own hands, I no longer carry girly bags – just a pouch would do. I walk with my car keys in between my knuckles so that the sharp edge sticks out, my phone in my pocket, and I stop whenever a motorcycle pass by me.
Poor girl, but yours in not the first or the last. Everyday we are hearing such gory details of snatch thieves, robbers etc. Most people in PJ are paranoia.
Just among the 9 roads where I live in SJ, I have been told of at least 7 to 8 robberies in broad daylight. one was just diagonally across my house. While these were happening over the past couple of months every other day just outside my house, the police are setting up traps around the roundabout to catchs motorist who happen to either forgot safety belt, talk on handphones etc. Each trap involves some 5 to 8 policeman. So these are what the police are doing rather than making our existence safer.
Lately, at least 5 roads in SJ have set up their own security points just for their rounds. They are definitely illegal but what other alternatives do they have.
You are right. I am also wondering what these NKRA are all about ??
Sharyn,
My empathy in your recent ‘mis-fortune’.
Glad that you are not physically injured unlike many other similar victims.
You are smart and wise in carrying a pouch instead of a handbag nowadays.
I too always hold my car-keys tightly in my right hand with the keys pointing outwards ready for any strike-back actions wherenever I walk along the streets and lonely places.
Cheers and take care, Sharyn.
Sharyn,
I hope you are ok now after the ordeal. The situation is quite the same over here in Penang. These bastards snatched back packs too. No one is safe.
Talking about catching speedsters on the highway, there are still buses going at neck-breaking speed of 125km/hr. They are only allowed 90km/hr on the highways. When will they learn?
I think the main root of the problem is the mismanagement of the systems in place. Priorities are not put where they are due, like police giving out summons more than doing rounds, road blocks rather than proper education, investigation into the wages and monitoring these bus and taxi drivers – with systematic punishments in place for law breakers.
Last year, a robber got into my house and we lost about rm20,000 worth of jewelry. It belonged to my mother of course. I called the police and they came TWO HOURS LATER! In Singapore, if the police is late by ten minutes, he can be reported to his superiors. Only when Pakatan wins will the police in this country be overhauled. I hope I’m not going to prison for this.