IGP says EO replacement will solve crime woes

The planned law to replace the Emergency Ordinance which was repealed last year would help address the crime woes in the country, says inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar.

According to a Berita Harian report today, Khalid said that those who had criticised the police in its crime-busting capability should back this new law.

"Do not just oppose because this effort is for public well-being. I hope people will give their support (for the replacement law), he was quoted a saying.

He said the EO replacement law will have a focus on resolving crime and violence in the country.

The EO, together with the Internal Security Act, which both allow for detention without trial, was repealed last year as part of the government's democratic reforms.

However, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi  (left) announced yesterday that the government was consulting stakeholders to replace the repealed EO.

Meanwhile, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng today said Ahmad Zahid was wrong to equate the recent rise in crime, especially street crime, to the abolition of EO.

Instead, Lim said the rise in crime is caused by the failure of enforcement and insufficient police personnel patrolling the streets to fight crime

"This is shown by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) comprising barely nine percent of the police force. Even the Special Branch of the police has nearly the same number of personnel as the CID," he said.

Furthermore, Lim pointed out that 41 percent uniformed police perform management functions while 31 percent are tasked with internal security and public order.

"In fact most of the police personnel are diverted to other non-core police duties not related to fighting crime, including being used as a political weapon by BN to deal with Pakatan Rakyat leaders," he said.

Lim added that a 2005 royal commission of inquiry on improving the police force had proposed that 22 percent of the police force be reassigned to active core policing work in fighting crime but this was ignored by the government.

"The most important recommendation of establishing the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) has also not been carried out when it would not only prevent police abuses of power and custodial deaths, but ensure that police is effective in preventing and solving crime," he said.