DAP blames police for country’s bad rating in global security study
The Malaysian Insider – 19 hours agoRELATED CONTENT
- DAP blames police for country’s bad rating in global security study
The police have failed in their statutory duty to combat crime and ensure safety and security in the country as evidenced by the recent spate of kidnappings of Malaysians and foreigners in Sabah, said the DAP.
Its secretary-general Lim Guan Eng (pic) said Malaysia ranks second among 12 countries in a global study of consumer perceptions of security issues.
The study, called the Unisys Security Index, is conducted to gauge the attitudes and perceptions of consumers on security-related issues, namely, national security, financial security, internet security and personal security.
Malaysia ranked number two to Mexico, a country that is rife with drug cartels and organised crime.
"The police should stop being politicised and being used as a weapon against the political opponents of Barisan Nasional (BN).
"Pakatan Rakyat leaders are not criminals and we are exercising our democratic right to bring about peaceful change of government through general elections.
"A drop in the crime index is only a statistical number that would count for nothing if the people do not feel safe from crime," he said in a statement today," Lim said.
He also cited Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz’s statement that the recent kidnapping cases in Sabah had more impact on the tourism industry than the March disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.
He said the United States, Britain and Germany had issued travel advisories against Malaysia.
"The DAP urges the police to evaluate the 2014 Unisys Security Index and take remedial steps immediately.
"The police should not be in denial that the crime situation is improving when there are so many people who become victims of crime.
"The most effective measure is to assign half of the 114,000-member police force to directly fight crime, instead of leaving it to less than 20%," the Bagan MP and Penang chief minister said.
The survey was conducted from March 14 to 27 and it revealed a staggering jump in overall security index in Malaysia from 160 points in 2008 to 198 points this year, landing the country at second place after Mexico (203).
According to Unisys, the global average score at 143, and anything exceeding 150 is considered "seriously concerned".
In November last year, Taiwanese Chang An Wei was abducted in a raid at the Pom Pom island resort in Semporna, while Taiwanese businessman Li Min Hsu, 57, was killed, when gunmen opened fire during the attack.
Chang was released in December, 36 days after she was kidnapped, after negotiations with the kidnappers.
In April, two women – a Chinese national and a Filipino - were abducted by armed gunmen from the Singamata Reef Resort off Semporna.
In May, another Chinese national was abducted by Abu Sayyaf gunmen from a fish farm near Lahad Datu.
Earlier this month, Malaysian fish farm operator Chan Sai Chiun, 32, and his Filipino worker, Maslan, 20, were kidnapped in Kunak near Lahad Datu by gunmen. – June 20, 2014.
