WE congratulate the Johor police for successfully solving the recent kidnap case, in which six men and two women were apprehended for the crime involving a ransom of RM1.7 million.

However, we regret to note that this achievement is overshadowed by the increasing crime rate, which showed a disturbing 13.36 per cent rise last year. Based on police statistics, the increase is astounding as it depicts a rise from 209,388 cases in 2006 to 224,298 last year. We cannot but be even more concerned by the breakdown of this total: violent crimes escalated from 44,016 cases in 2006 to 49,897 last year and property crimes from 165,372 in 2006 to 174,401 last year. There was also an increase in rape cases of nearly 30 per cent from 2,454 cases in 2006 to 3,177 cases last year. Unarmed gang robbery increased to 4,344 (159.3 per cent) for the whole of last year compared with 2006. There were 7,067 cases reported last year compared with 2,723 cases in 2006. Extortion was also on the rise by as much as 21.2 per cent and victims of harm caused intentionally (under Section 324/326 of the Penal Code) increased by 16.48 per cent. However, there was a slight decrease in homicide cases from 606 in 2006 to 588 last year; unarmed robbery was also down from 19,467 (2006) to 17,241 (last year); as well as armed robbery. Last year, Selangor recorded the highest incidence of crime (15,104 cases), followed by Kuala Lumpur (7,639 cases) and Johor (6,900 cases). It has to be admitted that crime trends involving bodily harm have tended to be more gruesome. Criminals are becoming more sadistic. Torturing and murdering victims to the extent of cutting them up into pieces and burning them, thus hoping to destroy any trace of evidence, is becoming common. The easy availability and use of firearms is also frightening. Media reports in August indicated that the country may be facing great public security danger, with the smuggling of firearms, drugs and cigarettes becoming rampant. The Consumers Association of Penang calls on the government to set up an independent commission to look into the rise in crime in the country and to formulate a comprehensive plan of action to combat the trend. The commission should also come up with recommendations to effectively address the problem. Malaysians must not live in fear and it is the right of every citizen to feel safe and secure.

S.M. MOHAMED IDRIS, for Consumers Association of Penang

Source: NST – November 11, 2008