By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 — Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein blamed the country's high crime rate on the demonisation of institutions such as the police.
He said this in Parliament yesterday evening, immediately drawing stinging criticisms from members of the Opposition.
"Institutions such as the police force are made to be seen as irresponsible, as bad when they are also at the same time just trying to do their jobs. Besides PDRM, the delay in the various trials and judging process is also one of the factors for the escalation of the nation's crime rate," said Hishammuddin.
He said one of the ways to deal with the matter is to speed up the legal process.
He also identified four major states in the country as havens for criminal activities — Penang, Selangor, the Federal Territory and Johor. However, he said that the crime wave in Selangor and the Federal Territory has gone down drastically due to measures taken by the ministry as well as the police.
Among these measures are the increase in police presence and surveillance in 50 identified hot spots (crime-riddled areas). This has apparently been effective in minimising the number of criminal cases.
Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua hit out at this plan, saying that while crime in the hot spots had indeed decreased, the crime wave in the other "peaceful" areas in the country had in effect increased as police officers from these stations were relocated to help assist those in the hot spot areas.
The government also plans to install CCTV cameras in several areas..
"Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) plans to install an additional 100 CCTV cameras to the existing 82 units in Kuala Lumpur by the year 2010. A total of 496 units will be installed by the Local Government Ministry (JKT) in all the states in Peninsular Malaysia," stated the Home Minister.
The police will also be given RM90 million to upgrade facilities and police stations throughout the country.
DAP secretary-general Lim Kit Siang lashed out at Hishammuddin for failing to provide a complete sense of security to the public.
"In the Home Ministry website there is an online poll which states 90 per cent of visitors to the site do not feel safe at all with regards to the crime rate in Malaysia.
"No one wants to politicise people's safety. We need to admit that this country's crime problem is serious," said Lim.

written by swipenter, November 12, 2009
written by PC Stone, November 12, 2009
written by frankio, November 12, 2009
In Bolehland, when the Minister is not doing his job, yet he can open up his big mouth to spew all the humbugs! What a shame this Hisham to his 'father of unity'?! Hopelessly uncouth minister a lump of stinking bullshit!
written by The Empire Strikes Back, November 12, 2009
written by jesseltonite, November 12, 2009
The crime rate has come to a point where people have given up on the police. Instead of being able to walk around town freely without getting constantly harassed by the fear of Mat Rempits and snatch thieves, Malaysians are now learning to live WITH crime. This is proven by the advertisements on radio saying that it's actually YOUR fault if you live your lap tops or bags exposed. What has this country come to. Are Malaysians now okay with living together with criminals???!
written by mico, November 12, 2009
Please do not take Malaysians as fools.
written by change28, November 12, 2009
The Police have a bad reputation which is well deserved. UMNO uses the Police as a political tool to suppress opposing views. The Police should not be involved in politics.
Unfortunately, most of the high posts in the Police are held by men without the strength of character to resist UMNO's misuse of the Police.
The rakyat suffers daily from corruption in the police. Most people do not even bother to report crimes because it is futile to expect the police to do anything.
But the Police appears to be super efficient when it comes to acting on Opposition figures. Keeping the peace and maintaining the safety of the public is very low on our Police priority.
For once in your miserable life, dear Hishamuddin please take the time to actually work on a problem and come out with more sensible and practical solutions to the problem. Changing the image of the police does not change anything in the quality of the police.
written by citizen, November 12, 2009
written by Sam, November 12, 2009
written by Menaul Geruda, November 12, 2009
written by dede, November 12, 2009
written by robert ng, November 12, 2009
SO, THE RAKYAT IS RESPONSIBLE??? IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE IMPLYING???
SHOWS WHAT ANOTHER CLUELESS, BRAINLESS MORON WE HV FOR SO CALLED LEADERS
written by ktteokt, November 12, 2009
written by Paddington Bear, November 12, 2009
"Sorry we didn't mean to hurt your feelings!"
written by terongpipit, November 12, 2009
Nak cari RPK pun tak jumpa-jumpa!!
Polis dulu-dulu, boleh bawa balik bekas PKM dari Cina lagi...
Awat polis ler lembik-lembik!!!
written by Daniel Chang, November 12, 2009
As tax payor, we are the customer. For instance in my condo, if my security team fail to perform, on next contract term we change to another service provider. As citizen we have the right to choose who to run our country resources and machinery effectively. If our Home Minister don't have an effective solution, he should step down.
written by equal, November 12, 2009
written by Image, November 12, 2009
written by Onlooker, November 12, 2009
written by Richard, November 12, 2009
His father is turning in his grave knowing the shame that his son has brought to the family.
Please, if you have nothing better to say just shut up! If you have to say something then grow a brain before you let out any empty air that comes out between your ears!
written by Jambu, November 12, 2009
written by B.U.N., November 12, 2009
written by urangsabah, November 12, 2009
written by Son of Odhin, November 12, 2009
written by Francis Pereira, November 12, 2009
written by Bigjoe, November 12, 2009
written by J Khoo, November 12, 2009
written by xenos55, November 12, 2009
written by tony, November 12, 2009
o wonder malaysia,,it going down all the down,,,,frankly malaysia is a blessed country,but with such low grad minister,,and most of them are,,they bring malaysia down with them,,,if only malaysia had those calibre minister like singapore did,,malaysia now would have a great standing among the developed world,
written by Gong Tuah Tai, November 12, 2009
written by Awareness, November 12, 2009
written by bingbingbiangbiang, November 12, 2009
10 years later, we will fall behind Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam ...
written by scrutinizer, November 12, 2009
We need immediate solutions but not suggestions lah. You guys are just lost & clueless!
written by mha1952, November 12, 2009
i. statistics of crimes committed (reported - by %)
ii. success ratio % through investigations
iii. loss in terms of Milions in RM ( and RM recovered).
iv. highest crime index area (in Malaysia)
v. steps actively taken to tackle crime (increase in manpower, equipment etc)
vi. recommendations for review of laws
Rogue elements are present in any law enforcement systems but we need a Proffessional and Independent Police Force to ensure public confidence.
written by hisham dean, November 12, 2009
written by Donovan Chin, November 12, 2009
written by elf, November 12, 2009
The right way to shut the public up is by working harder and stop asking for bribes at every opportunity. It has come to a stage where people have to ask for summonses if they don't want to give bribes, for example. If they think like you, then Malaysia probably has a much larger problem than everyone thinks.
written by use to be in the force, November 12, 2009
In any where in the world, especially in developed and developing countries, crime increases as socio- economic development progresses. Crime is a shadow of development, becoming more complex and sophisticated with the advancement of technology. The crime rate becomes higher not because of of people demonising the police, but is a natural effect that comes with development. In developed countries, for every single reported crime, there are three (3) more not reported. But in Malaysia, we don't have such surveyed/actual figures, except imaginary figures uttered by politicians, the Crime Prevention Council and the police themselves. The potraited figures are not the actual figures of the reported crime, but the vetted and underclassified reported crime incident.
Crime rate is actually the statistics collected, classified and categorized by the police. This crime rate is dependent on the number of crime events reported to the police by the rakyat. Thus a higher crime rate in actually reflects the confidence of the rakyat in the ability of the criminal justice system. Hishamuddin said the crime rate became higher due rakyat's " demonisation of institutions such as the police". However, sad to say in Malaysia, the crime rate does not reflect the reality, solely because whenever crime happens, especially property / petty crimes such as burglary, house break-ins and snatch theft, the victims are very reluctant to go to the balai polis to report the crime because more often than not, the crime is not solved and merely become statistics. The victim only reports the crime to the police for the purpose of having documentation to support their insurance claim or to facilitate obtaining replacement of personal documents such lost NRIC, ATM/credit cards and the like. Only when the crime involves death, serious injuries, molestation/rape or loss of vehicles would they immediately report the matter to the police.
The police nowadays focus more of its resources toceremonial functions such as VIP escorts, body guarding junior cabinet members, accompanying the religious enforcement agency to raid khalwat cases,deploying more manpower in addressing the victimless crimes categories as well as quelling demonstrations, which is in actuality the democratic right of the rakyat to voice their dissatisfaction of events in the country and less on regulatory functions. It is rare to see police presence in the neighbourhood except when it is nearing festive season.
Police should change/reverse its deployment/placement of personnel from top heavy in the the administration sector and fuction - ( Bukit Aman, State and District) to the actual policing/regulatory function. As for now police in administrative sectors outnumbers the police personnel who does the actual police work.
written by Carol, November 12, 2009
Then , please demoralize me now
written by randomthoughts, November 12, 2009
People in Saudi can leave their belongings on the street and nobody will steal it! So, how many hands have been cut? I heard only one in 10 years (I may be wrong...). Nobody dares to steal... And justice also swift... no need to bagi makan that criminal for 10 years.
written by ktteokt, November 12, 2009
written by Steven Ong, November 12, 2009
Is he saying that our police force obeys the opinions of the people/ Or really are they obeying a certain people at the government?
Yesterday a Malay man inform me that his house was broken into last week and things stolen. When I asked him, whether he report to the policemen at the pondok police. He shake his head and said ', Tak boleh pakai punya- lah'. The pondok police was just 120 ft away from his house. Most of the time, you see the motorbikes parked outside and the doors shut, day and night.
How could one have a positive opinion when they see the real situation? Our Hishammuddin should checked out first before giving such a silly statement.
written by Lung Hien Ching, November 12, 2009
written by Roy, November 12, 2009
written by semuanya OK kot, November 12, 2009
written by load-of-crap, November 12, 2009
written by Winterko, November 12, 2009
written by allankong, November 12, 2009
You'll find it will improve your image
For example the police demonised the people See what I mean?
written by Kaki Temberang, November 12, 2009
written by pat ling, November 12, 2009
written by razak musa, November 12, 2009
written by thean cheong, November 12, 2009
written by spanker, November 12, 2009
Your explanation, while valid, posits an incorrect assessment of the situation. If a crime goes unreported, it does not necessarily mean the public does not have confidence in the police. It could also mean that the crime is negligible to that person, e.g. smoking in a non-smoking govt facility.
Thus, it is important not only got gather the statistics, but to classify the statistics. For instance, the U.S. Dept of Justice classifies crimes into felonies and misdemeanors, and then there's the 3-strike rule. How often does a violent crime such as a abduction-unlawful imprisonment-rape-torture-murder (Canny Ong) occur, versus misdemeanors like pickpocketing?
Obviously, the police force, the m'sian government, and malaysians has a lot to learn when it comes to statistics, crimes and crime prevention.
written by NoBN, November 12, 2009
written by Young Adult, November 12, 2009
It really does make me depressed reading about things like this in our country even more so since I'm studying in a country where girls walk around freely sporting their expensive Guess handbags and kids can prowl the town at night with their friends without being mugged or kidnapped. I'm thinking we should actually support the Aduns or bigwigs who do give a damn and are working hard. Or if we can't even trust them, then we'll have to come up with a solution by ourselves.
I'd imagine it's not easy working through the muck the the old governing body left behind and I honestly can't foresee myself actually taking on the muck the Adun of Subang has. I don't think I have the perseverance or the patience to try and fix a broken system. Put yourself in the shoes of a politician who gives a damn (obviously not Kerismuddin), can you imagine wrongs spanning decades being fixed overnight? I think we forget that it's much harder to do and maintain something good because it take one small bad thing to mess it up. Imagine trying to fix something bad that's been festering for decades.
I understand that you turned to the Adun because you've lost faith in our police force. We all have. But just think about how much that has to be dealt with too. Not an easy job and we all know it. Besides, the Adun of Subang IS young and educated with better prospects than working for shitty pay under a government that doesn't give a damn about its citizens. But she has chosen to serve the people out of compassion over individual gain unlike many government elects. I'm sure it's not a career path most Malaysian parents would endorse.
written by John Lim, November 12, 2009
If Najib is serious about this slogan, he should slap Hisham in his face and sack him immediately, or else, STOP all the Barisan Nasional's hypocrisy trying to fish our votes!!!
For a better tomorrow for our next generation, BN must be toppled, for the fact that they will never repent, but continue to treat Rakyat's matter lightly, and think all of us are stupid......BN is hopeless!!
written by Botox, November 12, 2009
written by Botox, November 12, 2009
written by Milo, November 12, 2009
Start with Head first!
written by Anak Kedah, November 13, 2009
written by M.Miaw, November 13, 2009
written by KT Yeo, November 13, 2009
Pls do something and not just point fingers .
written by veryupset, November 13, 2009
So..... it's like if "you critize me, i won't do my job.." ???
Can't take constructive criticisim to better the police force. Is it.......?
written by Hishamuddin Replies, November 13, 2009
are downright rude some more...Let me explain to you all. I am a Minister from
you know lah, Barisan Nasional. I have Ministers, their deputies, their party
supporters, their business alliance supporters ALL lining up in a Barisan lah.
Why do you think my party is called Barisan Nasional? Whole country lining up
for a quick buck. We have a very small budget left over to beef up police. I mean
after we have paid our cronies RM 46,000 for a RM 3,000 laptop, or RM few billion
for a RM few million worth of stadium (wonder why they collapse so fast ah...), and
after we have made our study trips to Disneyland to study prawn farming etc, and
some more my Towkey wanted to pay RM 500 m commission to his friends for doing
good PR so we could buy submarines, not much left over mah. So we have no money to
pay the police better salary, no money to build better quarters, no money to buy
fast cars to chase the thieves (our underworld very rich you know - they drive
fast cars), no money to hire the best people - we just hire mainly SPM school failures
sorry I mean school leavers that no one else wants to hire. So you see this is really
my problem lah...after all the siphoning to feed the people lining up in the
Barisan, no more budget wor.. So have a heart people. Don't lah hantam so hard.
Adoi - sakit telinga ku.
written by Disgusted, November 13, 2009
a) When my car was stolen from my house by burglars/professional car thieves, the policemen that came to my house appeared really un-interested and un-professional. After 10 minutes they told me NOT to expect to find my car - just claim your insurance. Am I supposed to be excited by such a police force? Why do you think premiums keep going up?
b) In Australia I met an ex-Malsyaian police officer (a non-Malay) who told me that after he had arrested the head of the leading illegal betting syndicate in his city, he was called in by his superior. Boss said "Berapa you mau? Bulan bulan boleh dapat mah....lepaskan dia". He quit because he would either be framed up as a corrupt officer or may be set up in an ambush and killed. - So am I supposed to be proud of such a police force? Why do you think illegal 4-D is a part of Malaysian life and you can place bets on any day without fear?
c) I also met an ex-drug pusher who managed to escape the gallows (a Malay man) who told me that the drugs that he retailed were supplied to him by police officers. - Is it any surprise that the drug menace keeps growing but we hardly ever hear of any big kingpins being arrested?
d) I met a retired police officer who told me that the Malaysian police force is now "privatised". Due to very limited personnel and resources, they are only able to patrol and/or respond to calls from "paying" customers. Ex-police have now gone into the business of "security consultants" who you can pay each month and they will ensure that your business is fully protected by the police. -- Hisham, are you surprised that we want to puke at your force?
e) The Statutory Declaration by serving officers displayed on Malaysia Today are a clear indication of what is happening to our Malaysian police force. They have become partners in the lucrative business of protecting corrupt politicians, prostitution, drugs, gaming, human trafficking and the like. Visit any police station and you can see incompetence and "who-gives-a-damn" on public display. - Am I supposed to be impressed by our Malaysian police"
Wake up Hisham. This is the Internet era. Yesterday you would close down the offending publications and put reporters in jail. We will kick you out in the next GE.
Disgusted by the Malaysian police
written by timothy cheng, November 13, 2009
written by megabigBLUR, November 20, 2009
written by disgusted too, November 20, 2009
i had innocent friends who were held for questioning for days for no reason being that they were to pay a certain sum of money which were lowered by the day. in the end he paid $150 to be released on the fifth day with threats of more crimes to charged under him. this is called extortion.




