The state of crime in Malaysia: Even the sick are not spared by robbers by J. D. Lovrenciear

The most recent incident where a Tan Sri shot and killed one of the many robbers who struck at two clinics in Kuala Lumpur is going viral on-line as the rakyat remain paralyzed with fear. As if reading about Cabinet Ministers and or their next-of-kin and even the top cop's family falling victim to crime is not enough, now we witness even clinics are easy targets for robbers these days.  A senior politician has also highlighted that even eateries have to throw in security guards to keep dining patrons away from robbers.

What is becoming of Malaysia Mr. Honorable Prime Minister, Mr. Honorable Home Minister and our Number One captain of the police force, pray tell us rakyat?  Or shall we just dismiss the clinic robbery as an isolated incident – never mind the fact that the robbers were on a robbing spree before the Tan Sri stopped them in their tracks on the second crime.

Where in the world do you hear of robbers even striking clinics? It looks like we may now have to ask even doctors to operate like banks with security vaulted doors. Or maybe, the Home Minister should direct the Health Minister to get doctors to station armed guards at the business premises just like pawnshop operators. And as for the sick, they perhaps have to snoop around to ensure the vicinity is free of potential robbers waiting to strike, before entering a clinic for emergency medical attention.

The clinic robbery incident therefore obviously hammers in the perception and in all likelihood the fact that our police force have lost the battle to curb crime.  Today, the force is reduced to chasing after those illusive robbers AFTER a crime has taken place. There is no crime prevention anymore that is working in Malaysia.

But only recently the rakyat got lambasted by the powers-that-be that crime is only a “perception” problem. And of course, when the rakyat kept harping that crime was striking every nook and corner, the Opposition politicians got ticked of as the culprits “politicizing” the situation.Hello, anyone at home in the government of Malaysia? Do you hear that even helpless sick patients are being robbed at clinics?  Next probably you will see the robbers strike private hospitals as only the rich and affordable would be there – No?

Let us get honest here. What if the robbers killed the Tan Sri? What if the bullets fired by the Tan Sri hit a citizen patient? What if the doctor died? Or are the powers that be going to shut us all up for “imagining too much” and slam us with the often quoted statement "the public is warned not to speculate"?Malaysians have now to ask themselves where and when the buck stops. It cannot go on and on like this as we now have witnessed the shocking incident of robbers even striking clinics and patients.

We need to know that the crime situation in Malaysia is no more on the crime prevention wave as practiced by countries bent on attaining the First-world status. Instead we have regressed to the low point of post-cime investigation. What use is it to Malaysians to be told that each time a crime has occurred and a report is lodged with the police, investigations will get going? Would we not be better off if a potential crime was nipped hence saving lives, properties and being freed of the mental and emotional torture that comes with a robbery, snatch theft or rape?

Not being able to protect the able citizen from crime is one thing; but now the expose is the police are not even able to protect the weak and infirm citizens seeking medical help. It is about time that the Home Minister and the Inspector General of Police – both appointed under the wish of the Honorable Prime Minister, made up their minds and announced which then is the national thrust and policy of the Police force – is it crime prevention or post-crime investigation?

If we are merely subscribing to a post-crime-investigation policy, then perhaps every commoner-citizen may have to carry parangs with them as they may not be in the league of Tan Sri’s licensed to have guns. Certainly, in view of the fundamental issues surrounding the state of public and citizens’ safety, the ball is the Prime Minister’s court now. Will he maintain his trademark silence or will the citizens' hope be ignited with word from the Honorable leader of this nation?

posted by D.Swami Gwekanandam