Two days ago, the media splashed the news that the police was finally on the verge of solving the horrendous Nurin Jazlin abduction-rape-murder crime, with reports that the police has obtained a seven-day remand order against a 31-year-old security guard who was detained in connection with the murder of eight-year-old Nurin Jazlin Jazimin last September.
Nurin was sexually abused by her assailant and killed, her body in a sports bag abandoned in Petaling Jaya, near the location where five-year-old girl Sharlinie Mohd Nashar went missing a week ago – another victim of the heinous crime of child abduction.
News report today that the security guard was released after three days of seven-day remand, as well as the release of another 43-year-old man detained last Saturday also in connection with Nurin’s murder, have further shaken public confidence in the competence and professionalism of the police force.
Recently, the police have proven itself very competent, diligent and successful in the arrest of peddlers of the Chua Soi Lek sex DVDs, which raises pertinent question as to the proper order of police priorities in fighting crime and creating an environment where Malaysians are assured of personal safety and property security.
After the shocking disappearance and abduction of Sharlinie and the fruitless search for her, despite personal pleas by the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers and even the Inspector-General of Police, there appears to be a CCTV-mania as if the installation of CCTVs can ensure a crime-free or low-crime society.
This is a great fallacy and evasion of government and police responsibility to fight crime with an efficient, professional world-class police force, for if CCTVs are so efficacious in fighting crime, then there is no need for any expansion and upgrading of the police force or increased allocations for the police apart from installing CCTVs.
Other countries have shown that CCTVs per se is no answer to endemic crime as there can be no substitute for an efficient, professional world-class police service, with the police highly visible in public places to fight and deter crime.
I am very disappointed that in the aftermath of the nation-wide shock of another heinous crime against a child, all attention had been focused on having more CCTVs instead of ensuring that Malaysia has an efficient, accountable, incorruptible, professional world-class police force to keep crime low.
Nobody in government, police or the ruling Barisan Nasional had referred to the Royal Police Commission and its 125 recommendations completed 32 months ago in May 2005 when Malaysia today would be a safer country with very lower crime rate, with Nurin and Sharlininie safe and happy with their family, if the Royal Police Commission Report and recommendations had been fully implemented.
The Royal Police Commission had proposed that the police focus on three core policing functions – to keep crime low, to eradicate corruption in the police force and to uphold human rights.
On all these three core policing functions, the police are on a worse footing today than when the Royal Police Commission was established four years ago.
Just as an example. Last week, the Prime Minister-cum-Internal Security Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he was “worried” about the rising crime index, as the number of serious crimes increased by 13.36 per cent nationwide last year, jumping from 44,016 cases in 2006 to 49,897 in 2007, with gang robbery without use of firearms galloping by more than 159 per cent.
Further study shows that the crime situation in Malaysia has reached crisis proportion, with endemic crime the order of the day in the four years of the Abdullah premiership, viz;
Violent Crime
Offences 2003 2007 +/- %
Total 22,790 49,897 27,107 119
Gang 1,920 7,067 5,147 268
Robbery
Without
Firearms
Rape 1,471 3,177 1,706 116
Thus, although serious crimes have shot up by 13.4 per cent last year as compared to the previous year, they have shot up by 119%, with gang robbery without firearms leaping by 268% and rape by 116% in the four years of Abdullah premiership from 2003 to 2007!
In the past four years, the incidence of rape had more than doubled from a daily average of four women raped a day in 2003 to 8.5 cases last year!
One important reason why Malaysia is facing a national crime crisis with the government and police losing control of the crime situation is because of the failure to implement the key recommendations of the Royal Police Commission in the past 32 months.
I dare say that if the key recommendations of the Royal Police Commission had been implemented diligently and professionally, Nurin and Sharlinie would not have been abducted and would have been safe with the family today.
We pray and hope that Sharlinie is safe and could be returned and reunited with her family. But let all Malaysians resolve that the Nurin and Sharlinie crimes are the final wake-up call to demand that Malaysians regain their two fundamental rights – to be free from crime and the fear of crime, for themselves and their loved ones.
As Parliamentary Opposition Leader, I will launch a series of public forums entitled “No more Nurins and Sharlinies as victims of crimes” throughout the country to mobilize public support for a nationwide “Good Cops, Safe Malaysia” campaign to make the streets, public places and privacy of homes safe again for Malaysians, visitors, tourists and investors.
In the first phase of the series, public forums will be held in Petaling Jaya, Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Penang, Seremban, Malacca and Johor Baru. I will invite leaders from political parties (both Barisan Nasional and Opposition parties), the Police, civil society leaders, NGOs and concerned individuals to the public forums to support the “Good Cops, Safe Malaysia” campaign.
(Media Conference statement in Ipoh on Thursday 17th Jan. 08)
Police force – Full of corruptions and ineffective.
Immigration Dept. – Full of corruptions and ineffective.
Judiciary – Full of corruptions and ineffective.
Perfect opportunity for criminals to strike !
Instead of blaming the police, we should ask why this had happened.
Is there a failure of the family unit? Are we concentrating too much in increasing the population without regards for the quality of the products? Are we neglecting our children till they can easily wander around?-Yes
Do we need more CCTVs? Yes, CSL has proven that.
Do we need GPS to monitor our children? Yes
all this kind of work ethic started with TDM. Look what he confirmed himself on the appointment of judges: The CJ gives him a list; CJ constructs the list from recommendations and if he is so inclined, includes people he has connections with as friends etc. TDM looks thru the list: he asks around and gets feedback from all over, not only those in legal profession but also businessmen like Vincent Tan. He can if he so inclined to ask who is compliant, a boot licker and who is likely to be independent minded and will not listen to instructions. From this he cuts down the list and he has the final say.
The parents should be held accountable.WHen they bring life into the world.They have an obligation to nurture them and look into their wellbeing till they become adult.They just cant keep producing and place the blame onto god.Once the police start charging them in court.ppl will start to take note.Thanks for the article lkt.This is good.
It’s not only the PDRM that needs to buck up. The AG’s Chambers, the ACA, the Judiciary – these all need to buck up in tandem, otherwise the system is only as strong as its weakest point.
How many prosecutions have fallen by the wayside ? What about attempted murder charges against peaceful protestors ? We are having a good laugh at the prosecutors’ antics in the Altantuya case, just as we are having a good laugh at the ACA officers’ antics in the RCI on Lingam. What about the senior judge who perverted the cause of justice by not submitting his written judgements for years ?
PDRM, AG’s Chamber, ACA, Judiciary are all dogs to UMNO. I begin to wonder how come Muslims, who hate dogs that much rear and feed them. Are UMNOs true Muslims?
We were once kids and we roamed freely in our neighbourhood without any problems and such things are unheard of. SO to blindly put the entire blame on the parents are unfair.
If not becos of a rotting society, there need not be any fear for any of us, not just kids ,a s even adults are targeted by snatch thieves. When will it end?
It will end or crime rate decline when the Police is a force to be reckoned with and not a bunch of sissies taking care the interests of some local warlords and umno sissies.
YES, you are absolutely correct to say that. Alas, the BN govt has too much at stake (namely ill-gotten corruption proceeds) to implement what the RPC recommended. Besides they are all criminals in one way or another.
Come the next GE all right thinking Malaysians must kick this useless BN out & send them to hell to save our nation from harm. Hear ye, hear ye, we all must vote BN out, period.
I agree with what Uncle Kit said that installing CCTV is just a fallacy..let me ask you all Malaysian…nowadays even if u got prove of a crime with a cctv recording or what..they will still need to check for its authencity which takes few months of even years(in Malaysia)..so whats the point of installing the CCTV..to a certain extent..i think that the installing of CCTV is just the gimmick for the GE…in 2004, AAB pledge to reduce crime rate and now after 4 years..the problems become from worse to worst…how is it posible to vote for this kind of person for the 2nd time?
some ppl are happily living in the past.How nice to come to the present.There are good parents no doubt.The question is how do you deal with bad parents.They are the problem.We can have the best police force but the parents must play their part too.
disapointed86, you said:
“…and now after 4 years..the problems become from worse to worst…how is it posible to vote for this kind of person for the 2nd time? ”
Not this person, the whole BN govt voted out this General Election. Everyone in the cabinet is much to be blamed for the situation that we are today but of coz when the fish rots, it always start from the head.
Why politicize an issue which is an issue of law and order? Police work has failed to produce results. The IGP has to take the blame. His is not an elected office.
Yes, IGP is not an elected office, but it is the people in elected office who put him there. And it is these very people in elected office who are refusing, for narrow self serving purposes, to fully implement the Royal Police Commission Report and its recommendations.
Installing CCTVs is going to be a sheer waste of money. Remember those traffice cameras? There are still remnants of them at some traffic junctions. Millions were spent but they became a white elephant.
Those CCTVs will disappear and become very useful when it ends up in some private properties. Alternatively with luck they will be working for six months after which they will all be malfunctioning through neglect, poor maintenance and/or vandalism. PAC will be screaming, the Auditor General will be criticising and Big Ears will be sermonising.
“…implement the Royal Police Commission Report and its recommendations.”
You do not need police reforms to solve murders such as this.
No number of reforms is going to solve or prevent anything if the police continues to fail to produce the kind of police work required because of the poor training. A better way is to expose officers involved in investigative criminal work to better training so they could acquire the experience needed to solve capital crimes such as this.
“I am very disappointed that in the aftermath of the nation-wide shock of another heinous crime against a child, all attention had been focused on having more CCTVs…”
It would be interesting to find out who gets the contract to supply these CCTVs.
Last year, my son had a late night accident near the Eastin Hotel. At the police station, both parties were trying to put the blame on each other, so my son pointed out that there was a CCTV right next to the traffic light where the accident happened. The response from the Damansara police: Sori encik, sudah lama rosak.
“The response from the Damansara police: Sori encik, sudah lama rosak.”
It is not that they do not maintain these CCTVs or do not know how to. They know CCTVs like all equipment when exposed to the elements have a short life span. So what’s wrong with hastening its deterioration so it could be replaced earlier. There is money to be made.
CCTV is the way to go. Maintainance is another issue to discuss altogether.
One police can monitor 8-10 CCTVs. This will save the cost of paying the salaries to 8 others police. Recording can be done if suspicious elements are found and policemen are despatch accordingly.
Please, I’m sure some of you out there have installed these gadgets at your house or office. Be fair.
The country’s leading maker of CCTVs is Scomi Engineering.
OK, OK, it’s just a joke.
….but let’s have a negotiated tender with Scomi anyway.
CCTVs have never been known to deter the commission of crimes but it does help the police in identifying those who commit the crimes.
Probably 75% of CCTV cameras or monitors will either, breakdown, malfunction or been stolen after 18 months or less!
While I strongly support the IPCMC as a requirement to progress towards a cleaner police force, there really is no guarantee that the IPCMC could have saved the children who were abducted.
Once the incident happens, the response time will be crucial and even 5 minutes could become a matter of life or death.
There is an Chinese(?) saying about danger and opportunity. I guess the clamour for all those CCTVs just reflects the businessmen’s response.
http://malaysiawatch3.blogspot.com/2008/01/how-cheap-are-cctvs.html
pasar malam is public place, but normally dont have cctv.
private owned cctv usually available retail store, or office.
therefore, i would like to suggest, pasar malam should have cctv provided by pbt.
it?s quite imposible for hawker to install own cctv.
p/s i prefer “surveillance camera” instead of cctv.
What is more expensive, a few CCTVs in good condition or dispatching the whole nation police force in search of a girl later?
Do the math folks
There is no end to CCTVs but there is an end to the search.
I’m very disappointed at this headline, as it sounds like cheap political gimmick to capitalize against Nurin/Sharminie’s case. I know Uncle Kit is sincere, but that is too much.
He is only doing what the rest of the DAP leadership is doing i.e. politicizing an issue which is one of law and order and has nothing to with politics.
I blame LKS for showing lack of sensitivity to the family of the deceased. LKS is just as guilty of hypocrisy like many other politicians. I suggest we shoot all the politicians – next come the lawyers.
BlackEye,
I think you are a little excessive in condemning politicians in general and LKS in particular for highlighting the high crime rates now prevailing in this country in which cases involving Nurin and Sharminie are two heinous examples.
High crime rates are a serious concern and it is only right that politicians get involved to pressure the government into action. I simply can not understand your logic that we can’t politicise law and order as an issue since the post of IGP is not an elected one. The reform and professionalism of police force are the ultimate responsibility of the Government. The government of the day must ultimately responsible for the safety and security of its citizens.
In this country, we have always thought that there are simple solutions to complex problems. Hence, overnight, installing CCTVs becomes the solution to our crime problems. And as for you, the simple solution is to enhance the training of police force, never that there are serious deficiencies in other aspects in the police force. I think it has become typical for Malaysia that each time we are faced with a problem, somehow we want to reach for that magic lamp. Complex problems required well thought through solutions. At least the recommendations as contained the Royal Police Commission are more comprehensive and encompassing than the piece meal solutions being suggested by the government and you.
….And as for you, the simple solution is to enhance the training of police force, never mind that there are serious deficiencies in other aspects in the police force.
I’m saying politicians should not politicize an issue which is that of law and order – not a political one. And that refers to all politicians.
“BlackEye, I think you are a little excessive in condemning politicians in general and LKS in particular …”
I’m not here to be polite.
“I’m saying politicians should not politicize an issue which is that of law and order – not a political one.”
The breakdown of law and order IS a national issue and hence politicians are expected to be involved.
Sorry for being out of topic.
Jeffrey, are we allowed to talk about the deliberation of the RCI on the Lingam tape? I am wondering why Kit still has not posted a thread of this topic in his blog?
Malaysiakini reported that TDM has been evasive in answering the questions asked. He also appeared to be selectively remembered or forgotten about certain matters in his response to several questions. I find it curious that he could get away with answer such as“ I don’t have to tell anyone as to why I made those decisions†and why he has not been directed to answer those questions by any of the Commissioners? Does it mean that as an ordinary citizen he has the right not to answer any question in a RCI?
“The breakdown of law and order IS a national issue and hence politicians are expected to be involved.”
So it is OK to politicize education like what the UMNO run government has been doing for more than three decades? Because according to you it is an issue that affect all Malaysians i.e. a national issue? Changing the medium of instruction from English to Malay because Malay is the national language, forcing subjects like Islamic Civilization on to non-Muslim non-Malay students, allowing racial quotas in the intake of new students to interfere with standards and quality of our education and the recognition of our degrees abroad etc is acceptable to you?
Politicization of education has contributed in no small way to the pool of unemployable graduates today. That is acceptable to you?
“Are we allowed to talk about the deliberation of the RCI on the Lingam tape? I am wondering why Kit still has not posted a thread of this topic in his blog?†– kanthanboy
On your first question, the better view is, in my opinion, that we can comment because it involves the Royal Commission’s enquiry, unlike a court in a continuing court case as in Altantunya Shariibuu’s case.
We (the public) cannot comment so readily on Altantunya Shariibuu’s case because, so the theory of “sub-judice†goes, to do so before final verdict of the court may influence the court and cause it to make a decision other than on the evidence and submissions before the court.
Of course, nowadays, many would think this subjudice rule archaic because court comprises of trained judges not so easily influenced by public comment. It is more relevant in god ole’ days when there was a jury of laymen, and jury members are more susceptible to be influenced by public comment. However, even where there is no more jury, the argument is that “subjudice†still applies because even if the judges cannot be so readily influenced by public comment, if public comment ahead of judgment is different from final court judgment, public confidence in that judgment will be undermined.
Considerations are different from Royal Commission and other commissions of inquiry’s (RC)’s deliberations. It is not 100% judicial in character. RC is not a court. At best it is quasi judicial meaning half half or “semi†judicial in nature. Persons involved in RC’s deliberations are not strictly on trial on any charge – yet. Criminal prosecutions may arise from evidence taken before RCs, but the sub judice convention should not be invoked until such time as such prosecutions are before the courts.
The RC is instituted to investigate and deliberate facts bearing on issues of great public concern and importance. What it recommends will affect future government policies and national legislations. Rightly public should be allowed to debate on RC’s deliberations and whatever goes on before it. If public has a right to comment on whether so and so should sit on the RC, whether it is impartial or bias and whether certain commissioners should recluse themselves I see no reason why the same public cannot comment on its deliberations. The same is not true in “normal circumstances†relating to a court or judiciary. The public cannot in contrast cast aspersions that our courts are bias for it will undermine public confidence in the institution of judiciary and the course of administration of justice. It will be contempt of court
But even here there are exceptions. We are not under “normal circumstancesâ€.
In wake of Lingam video clip revelations we’re in exceptional circumstances where the independence of judiciary is a matter of public enquiry and debate. So everything is fair game provided the comment is fair comment, not frivolous and malicious saying offensive and insulting things about courts and judges without fair basis.
As to why Kit still has not posted a thread of this topic in his blog, I don’t know, you have to ask him. :)
A point of clarification here. I think what is being criticized as “politicization” by some posters here is the statement “if the key recommendations of the Royal Police Commission had been implemented diligently and professionally, Nurin and Sharlinie would not have been abducted and would have been safe with the family today”, the basis of such criticisms being that even if implementation of Royal Commission’s recommendations will improve police efficiency to counter crime, there is no evidence that police efficiency resulting from implementation of Royal Commission’s recommendations would have averted or prevented isolated crimes of passion or crimes of maniacs involving Nurin and Sharlinie, so that it may be lacking in sensitivity to cite these examples to score polical points against the government for dragging its feet in implementing those recommentdations.
Spot on!
…but your caveat is not necessary.
It’s always political and can be politicize any issue or matter in Malaysia as long as BN says so.
Whenever the Opposition rises something or issue, then; “it’s political and always politicized by them”
We all are living in this modern age where informations drives us crazy…
Almost everything about us are wrapped around somebody’s interest or concern … so ? it’s can be addresses to be political as someone may not or want to hurt your feelings…
Emotional (EQ) have been the main impact to one’s life as to whether they are up or down , insane or mentally fit , raging or calm , politician are very good in these area whereby they are like good poker players ..
Anyway, Malaysian are always been feed with selected information by BN and those that dare to read more than given will be watched by them …
Live on ..
Didn’t the observation of politicisation of education as posted by some require political solutions? How can we ever de-politicise anything when political parties in power would inevitably put forth their own agenda and it is up to the oppositions to agree or otherwise based on their aspiration and political agenda? Government and contest to form government is political, whether we like it or not.
In the conduct of public policy, we should do the best we can under the circumstances, which usually means we should go for the most comprehensive and best thought out solution. There is no ideal solution and frankly, as much as we wish, there is no perfect information. There is no guarantee that the implementation of Royal Commission will make a difference to Nurin or Sharminie. But I think we ought to know that reducing crime rates and solving heinous crimes requires more than CCTVs and enhanced training of police force. Probably just like many others who have their own opinions on this issue, I too would want to venture some. To me, police inefficiency and incompetence are probably due to corruption, lack of supervision and leadership at various levels, lack of accountability of their actions or inactions, lack of independence and probably with many within the police force subjected to vested interest. I think each of us can look at the issue very differently. That is why I feel that the implementation of Royal Commission represents the best hope we have under circumstances. What is the point of setting up the commission, going through the processes of getting views and suggestions from various groups but only to think that the recommendations are still not good enough?
I want to know, after the force people to buy CCTVs, and crime still goes back up after an initial fall, do the building owners get to claim their money back from the police or PM Badawi/his SIL?
Thanks Jeffrey for answering.
Most of us go through our education system in school.
Family value and other morale educations including personal safety can be easily start there.
Does we show any concern to these formal education from day one ?
Parents are busy bringing financial dreams to cater for family needs that they totally rely on school to upbring their children future. Most of the school today are very much into commercial value and status. Children are taught to spot question and prepare the right answer to score… SPOT ..SPOT question …
Do you think they will be all rounder when they reach to contributing back to the society when they move into working environment later in their lives….. ?
I would agree that there is a very big problem with our police force but then on a level before that, we too have many sick people in our country.
It is already wrong that we can not live in a country where we cant go out to the shopping complex or any where else with our children without keeping a constant look out for their well being. If you are to live in Japan, you can see primary school kids walking to school ALONE and nothing happens to them. I have friends who have been walking to school since kindergarden until they graduate university and they have yet to experience any sicko coming on to them.
I think the first fundamental question is why are there so many sickos in our country? robbery or theft can be attributed to our crappy economy, lack of jobs and inflation but what would contribute to having 8.5cases of rape a day. Are the people in M’sia that sexually deprived that they would have to resolve to rape? have these people no family or relatives who are women?
Perhaps our society is getting sicker! But then, is it fair to assume that sometimes crimes are committed because criminals think that the likelihood of them getting caught is very slim. That is why a more police presence per se is deterrence.
Talking about sexual deprivation, it is interesting to note that highly depraved pornography is now readily available, but do people generally have an “outlet� We have so many foreign workers here who haven’t got spouse or friends with opposite sex with them. Where do they go if some of them can’t afford prostitutes?
Then we have an economic system that essentially rewards the owners of capital and the entrepreneurial class while the livelihood of workers has remained more or less unchanged. Surely some of them will resort to cheating, conning, stealing and robbing.
“What is the point of setting up the commission, going through the processes of getting views and suggestions from various groups but only to think that the recommendations are still not good enough?”
Are you that naive as to feel that a few reforms here and there would solve crimes, prevent crimes etc. If crimes could be prevented by just making some reforms, then let’s have more reforms.
When will the incumbent government learn its lesson?
I am sick and tired of the government’s poor and lame excuses for not setting up the Royal Police Commission.
How many more lives must they sacrifice before they decide to open their eyes?
I am definitely not giving my vote to a government who does not listen to its people, or that practices democracy as ‘tyranny of the majority’.
Are you that naive as to feel that a few reforms here and there would solve crimes, prevent crimes etc. If crimes could be prevented by just making some reforms, then let’s have more reforms. BlackEyes
Did you just read the last sentence of my posting? If so, I suggest you read the whole posting first before coming back to me. Don’t act smart with me and don’t be naive. Come to think about it, the word naive is aptly applicable to you judging from the many half bake posting you made.
No need to get personal!
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[deleted]
What’s wrong with this poster??
PDRM is too busy in other fields, so where do they have time to investigate these “small matters”? They have to search house to house for “haram vcds”, man junctions fitted with computerized traffic lights, go around and “ambush” the rakyat to make a little extra money, ronda around to issue summons on vehicles wrongly parked, etc. So with all these in hand, where do they find time to investigate these “small matters”?
The goose is getting cooked. BN has lost it’s faith. Though Tun is an iron fist, but he is firm on his decisions.
Everyone makes mistakes, the former premier fixes problems with better grace. Unlike the current “half-past six” cabinet now.
They always think money solves everything. Spend Billions, and there will maybe be 10% results.
The CCTV camera systems is not ready in Malaysia. The government will misuse if we have this. People will have more fear over the government as they are being watched.
PM, please don’t compare with other country. If you run this country with sincerity, trust, and you HAVE to acknowledge you are also a civil servant to appointed by the former premier to take up this tasks. Maybe you are not ready to live up to the standards and benchmarks of the former premier.
However, please don’t do foolish decisions just to prove he is better than his ex-boss. The people are his boss now!
All Cabinet members Don’t forget that.
All BN members should be and changed! As they are all groomed to be useless and only know how to cover their ass and most importantly their pockets! I hate MCA now. The have disgraced the Chinese. Especially Tun Ling! He should be in jail now, and his full financial report disclosed to the public.
Oh forgot. He’s Tun now. So he’s quite untouchable and he knows when to keep quiet. I hope he will pay his consequences.
I have alot of friends who have left this country, I had the chance before, I am kind of disappointed sometimes why I didn’t take that chance to leave this country. Another part o me thinks there is still a fighting chance. As there will be many unfortunate ones who will not be able to leave this country.
They will be left to suffer in silence.