'SPECIAL WEAPON' Zahid the new darling of the cops

PUTRAJAYA - OP Cantas has led to a drop in  crime by   10.2 per cent, says federal Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Hadi Ho Abdullah.

He said the police had a "special weapon" to combat crime and described it as pivotal to the operation's success and would encourage the force to work harder.

"Our special weapon is none other than Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who has supported not only the Royal Malaysian Police, but all law enforcement agencies.

"He is committed to fighting crime.

"He may be strict, but he is fair at the same time. He is brave to take on the responsibility to fight crime.

"He is a minister who walks the talk and does not make empty promises," said Hadi at the Crime Prevention and Public Safety Forum held here on Saturday.

"Op Cantas has also helped reduce the number of cases involving serious crime and property theft, just two weeks after its implementation on Aug 17 to eradicate secret societies and individuals involved in violent crime, including murder, robbery, rape and fights.

"Police have inspected 139,342 people, resulting in 3,205 arrests. Some 32,254 cars were inspected, as well as 44,079 motorcycles and 7,678 other vehicles.

"The index for serious crime and property theft has been reduced to 13.8 per cent."

Hadi said individually, the index for serious crime and property theft was reduced to 17.3 per cent and 22.5 per cent respectively.

He said a 60 per cent reduction was recorded for cases of armed gang robbery, 55 per cent for murder, 29.2 per cent for robbery without weapons, 25.8 percent for armed robbery, 22 per cent for causing hurt, 8.9 per cent for extortion and 1.6 per cent for riots.

A reduction of 20.9 per cent was recorded for burglary, 19.9 per cent for van, lorry and heavy machinery theft, 14.8 per cent for car theft, 10.8 per cent for motorcycle theft and 3.2 per cent for other theft.

"A total of 2,118 items have been seized, of which 390 comprise weapons, 1,238 live bullets, 11 bullet slugs, 224 cars, 222 motorcycles and 33 lorries and other vehicles."

He said as at Aug 31, police had identified 54 organised gangs, of which three were Malay gangs, nine were Indian gangs and 42 were Chinese gangs, with 40,313 members identified.

Hadi said 379 members belonging to gangs that were involved in serious crime had been identified, adding that it the number was expected to increase.

He dismissed suggestions of the police being racist and described the force as "colour-blind" to race when crime had been committed.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi speaking at the Crime Prevention and Public Safety Forum in Putrajaya on Saturday. Pic by Mohd Fadli Hamzah

NST