Kelana Jaya requires 'stronger police presence'

The presence of a mere 56 police personnel to protect and serve some 200,000 people in Kelana Jaya has been criticised as inadequate and “far below” acceptable standards.

At a press conference yesterday, PKR’s Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo-Burne said the imbalance has resulted in the “serious proliferation” of crime in areas like Desa Mentari and PJS 8 and 9 in his constituency.

While the national ratio of police to public is 1:250 - which is close to developed country standard - he said this does not apply to his constituency.

He also claimed that he had to visit the local police station to obtain data because official statistics are lacking.

Loh urged the police to improve strategies in tackling crime, pointing out that his office in PJS 8 has been broken into 10 times this year alone.

He also said that ‘Ops Payung’ -  mobile police outposts set up under a canopy - has had limited effect in combating crime.

This is because the “canopy appears only after a crime has been committed and the police personnel do not have transportation to go after suspects”.

Under ‘Ops Payung’, introduced by the Selangor police in 2010, the police are stationed at a crime hotspot for four hours before moving to another. 

Loh suggested that police stations be established in combination with ‘Ops Payung’ and police beat-bases in order to deploy resources better.