MP calls for more policing against crime

Victims of burglary and assault complain of police inaction.

VIDEO INSIDE

KUALA LUMPUR: Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has urged Bukit Aman to increase police presence in areas in the city that experience high crime rates.

“Citizens don’t feel safe in their own homes” despite government announcements that crime rates have dropped, she said at a press conference where two Seputeh residents recounted their experience as victims of burglary and physical assault.

Both alleged that police were dragging their feet in handling their cases despite there being CCTV evidence of the crimes taking place.

See Yeap Heng, a 32-year-old furniture dealer, said he lodged a report with the Petaling police station on March 22, the same day that burglars broke into his home at the Bukit Awansari Condominium in Taman Yarl and made off with RM40,000 in jewellery and foreign currency.

“Police came to take some photographs and did nothing after that,” he said.

On March 24, See obtained from the condominium management a CCTV recording that had captured the burglars in action. He gave a copy of the clip to the officer investigating his case, whom he identified only as Inspector Sahad.

He said nothing developed after that although Sahad promised to get a forensics team to examine the clip.

“I phoned him constantly, but he kept saying that they were short-handed. He even told me once to go apprehend the burglars myself.”

See said Sahad was now ignoring his calls.

Beaten by neighbour

The assault victim is 60-year-old real estate agent Loh Siew Yoo of Taman Sri Petaling 2. She lodged her report on July 23, also with the Petaling police station.

She alleged that she was beaten up by a neighbour, whom she named as Lim Kee Chong.

“He assaulted me after accusing me of parking my car outside his house although I’ve never done that before.”

She said police arrived at the scene promptly after her telephone call for help, but did nothing more than ask her to make a police report.

She too regularly called the police for updates, but the investigating officer, Inspector Fasrul, kept saying the matter was under investigation.

“Finally, one day, he just told me that Lim could not be charged because he merely used his hands on me. What is he talking about? What if he had strangled me? ”

Loh added that she had a CCTV recording of the assault but the police never made an effort to obtain it from her.

“I do not feel safe as Lim has threatened to hit me again.”

MP Kok said would write to KL police chief Mohmad Salleh to ask him to take immediate action over the reports by See and Loh.

She said she saw no reason for delays in the investigations.

To cite manpower shortage would be a lame excuse, she added. “If they do lack manpower, Bukit Aman should deploy more officers to areas with high crime rates.”

FMT was unable to reach Mohmad for comments.