Can't our police fight crime with court process? - Tony Pua

The now familiar argument by the authorities that rising crime rate in the country was linked to the repeal of the Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance and the Restricted Residence Act (RRA) in September 2011 has been challenged.

DAP's Petaling Jaya Utara member of parliament Tony Pua, responding to a report which quoted a senior police official defending the RRA as 'useful' to curb hardcore criminals, said such an argument was shocking as it showed the police failed in criminal investigation.

"This is a shocking state of affair because are the Police telling us that if they are unable to jail suspects without trial, then they are unable to fight crime in the country?

"Are the police claiming to be so incompetent that they are unable to investigate with all required evidence to bring these alleged criminals to court and make them pay for their crimes via the rule of law?" Pua asked.

He added that in cities where crime rates were low such as Hong Kong, Tokyo, London and Singapore, there had been minimal use of 'detention without trial' as the police's criminal investigation departments were able to nab criminals and stop them with evidences in court.

As such, Pua asked if Malaysian criminals "are more intelligent and more organised in their activities to avoid detection and prosecution".

He reiterated Pakatan Rakyat's call that the police force redistribute its priorities to pay more attention to real crimes.

PDRM's criminal investigation department (CID) comprises barely 9% of the police force, as opposed to 41% in administration functions and 31% in internal security and public order.

Pua reminded that the 2005 Royal Commission of Inquiry report had recommended about 20,000 uniformed personnel or 22% of the force be reassigned to active policing work.

"The Home Ministry and the Malaysian police must stop giving excuses to the rising spate of crime. It must accept the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry carried out 8 years ago, and implement all the necessary measures to improve the effectiveness and professionalism of the police force," he stressed.

- Harakah Daily