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“Minister’s daughter injured when victim to snatch thieves” (Sin Chew)
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“Retired teacher loses her life and jewellery in house break-in” (Star)
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“Elderly Ipoh woman killed in house robbery” (New Straits Times)
If anybody in Malaysia needs to be convinced that there is a rife, rampant and runaway crime situation in the country, these three headlines in today’s printed media should be adequate and convincing proof, as they are about (i) the 26-year-old daughter of the Communications and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek who lost cash and personal belongings amounting to RM8,000 to two snatch thieves near a hypermarket in Ampang and was slightly injured on her right knee in the 11.50 a.m. incident yesterday; (ii) retired primary school teacher Khalijah Abu Samah, 74, who was killed during a robbery at her home at Kampung Sungai Jai, Beranang, Kajang and (iii) elderly citizen, A. Sampuranan, 75, who was killed in a robbery in her house in Ipoh.
But there is one person who does not seem to be convinced that Malaysians are suffering from an unacceptable and intolerably high rate of crime and prevalent fear of crime – and that person is the new Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, even though in the first week of his appointment as the No. 1 top police officer, his own sister was victim of a break-in in her bungalow in Mantin in Negri Sembilan and the sister of the Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was also victim of a house break-in in her double-storey bungalow in Petaling Jaya!
But the national tragedy is compounded, for the country not only has a new IGP but also a new Home Minister, Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi who is also not concerned about the rampant crime situation as he regards Pakatan Rakyat leaders and civil society activists who are committed to peaceful and democratic process of political change as bigger enemies than the real criminals themselves!
Khalid should resign as IGP if he is not prepared to give top priority to roll back the wave of crime in the country instead of carrying out his obligations to his political masters in UMNO/BN.
A person who is not prepared to recognize and give top priority to reducing crime and eradicating the prevalent fear of crime is just not fit to be the IGP of Malaysia.
I am completely shocked that Khalid has misinterpreted his duties and responsibilities as IGP in a manner whereby keeping Malaysians safe and free from crime and the fear of crime is not his No. 1 duty.
Two days before May 5 polling day of the 13th General Elections, the outgoing IGP Tan Sri Ismail Omar assured all Malaysians that the police will continue to maintain public safety and security regardless of which coalition wins the general elections.
When Ismail declared that “Our duties do not depend on the results of the elections”, his assurance earned plaudits as it had credibility.
Why has the Police leadership veered from the independence, impartiality, professionalism upheld by Ismail in a short period of two weeks after the appointment of Khalid as the new IGP?
I hope it is not necessary for MPs to move a collective censure motion in the first meeting of the 13th Parliament to demand the resignation of Khalid as IGP for the simple reason that he is neither concerned nor capable of declaring an all-out war against crime to ensure the safety of Malaysians, tourists and investors and to eradicate the prevalent fear of crime in the country as he is more interested in regime-protection of the UMNO/BN government.