Crime NKRA in for revamp to change public’s views
Police officers are seen at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur, April 28, 2012. — Reuters picKUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6 — The implementation of the crime reduction National Key Result Area (NKRA) will be reviewed and enhanced to change public perception on crime rates in the country, said the new chairman of the NKRA Secretariat, Datuk Wira Ayub Yaakob.
The former Penang police chief, who officially assumed his new duties today, believes the review that will emphasise on including ideas and opinions from the public will result in a suitable approach in addressing public perception that the crime rates nowadays are at a worrying level.
Ayub, who replaces Datuk Abu Samah Mat, who is now Bukit Aman CID deputy director (Investigation/Legal), said understanding the people’s wants was a proper approach before convincing them on the actual crime situation in the country.
“We are searching for a new formula in telling the people that the crime rates are actually low and this is a vital initial step in tackling public perception on crime rates and their lack of confidence in safety in the country.
“We are looking for new ideas from the public and among the steps is to first understand their wants before coming out with a new approach,” he said after the handing-over and receiving of duties which was witnessed by Bukit Aman CID director, Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin, here, today.
The crime reduction NKRA is among the six NKRAs announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on July 27, 2009.
The other five NKRAs are widening access to education, fighting corruption, improving standard of living, enhancing infrastructure in the rural and remote areas, and improving public transportation.
On the high-profile policing initiative involving senior police officers, Ayub said it was hoped that there would be better mutual respect between the public and police, hence creating confidence and trust in each other.
“If closer co-operation is established, we could share resources, for example, police presence at shopping complexes will result in better security control while the presence of auxiliary police could help curb crime,” he said.
On police “omnipresence”, Ayub said in enhancing the approach, police welcomed new, innovative ideas to be combined with the existing expertise, knowledge and assets to achieve the objective of reducing crime.
Meanwhile, Mohd Bakri said the CID was forming a special team and drawing up a special operation in combating crime during the upcoming Aidilfitri season, especially in the identified crime hot spots. — Bernama
