SENSELESS DEATH:Arrest of Ambank 'killer guard' not enough, our lives at risk until revamp

KUALA LUMPUR - After a 19-day manhunt, the police finally tracked down the security guard who brutally shot dead an Ambank officer with a pump gun before making off with RM450,000 in cash.

However, the arrest won't be enough to erase the shock felt by the nation, the terrible loss suffered by her family nor can it ever bring back to life the 37-year-old mother of two, who had worked in the bank for 16 years.

Last but not least, critics said it should not absolve the government from blame for its lax policies in licensing security firms.

Indeed, the public must push even harder as until the private security industry - currently dominated by firms controlled by cronies of top government leaders - is cleaned up, "all our lives" would be at risk.

"This case is the tip of the iceberg. Capturing the guard or even sentencing him is not the end of the story. If Najib doesn't buck up and get the Home Ministry to implement real solutions, no one is safe," MP for Bayan Baru Sim Tze Tzin told Malaysia Chronicle.

"The crony firms must not be allowed special privileges, they must bite the bullet so to speak. Otherwise, we have a situation where our security is helmed by criminals. It is a deadly and fatal joke."

A senseless death

The robbery-murder had occurred on October 23 at the Ambank Subang Jaya branch in Selangor.

The alleged killer guard is believed to be an Indonesian national holding a fake Malaysian identity card, without which document he would not have been able to be hired as an armed guard.

The current regulation only allow Malaysian and Nepali guards to carry arms.

The government has tried to react by yanking back the licences of several security firms and slapping on checks.

But the industry has walloped back, accusing the government of making them the scapegoats for its own shaky policies. Critics have also accused the government of corruption and handing out licences to crony firms without expertise or experience.

Prime Minister Najb Razak, who also heads his Umno political party, has been quick to congratulate the police on the arrest of the suspected killer guard. "Congratulations and thank you, PDRM," he said on Twitter.

Crony firms must not be allowed to get away

However Najib had no solutions to offer for the widespread risks still faced by the customers, users and staff of banks and all other businesses who outsource security to private firms.

"The senseless death of the Ambank officer late last month has opened yet another can of worms pertaining to our worsening crime situation. Why did Norazita have to die like that? Let me be blunt here. Yes, we can blame UMNO leadership - for refusing to reform the police and for allowing cronies to run security firms," Opposition lawmaker Liew Chin Tong said in a recent statement.

"While there are enough police personnel per capita (approximately 110,000 police to 28 million people), only a fraction is involved in direct crime fighting."Omnipresence of the police and quality investigation are two most important factors, yet half of the police personnel are in management, logistics (12%), special branch (5%), riot police (3%), and the communist-fighting paramilitary unit General Operation Force (15%)."

Tip off, guard tried to get a fake passport

CID director Hadi Ho Abdullah had told the press they received a tip-off that the guard was in hiding in southern Johor state.

A special Ops team from police HQ in Bukit Aman was immediately sent to Johor Baru.

The SWAT team managed to ambush and arrest the suspect at about 7am in Kampung Belungkor, Kota Tinggi, Johor Baharu.

"Police believe with the arrest of the suspect, the case has been solved," Hadi Ho said in a statement issued on Sunday.

Taken by surprise

It is believed that 37-year-old guard was taken by surprised. According to police, he had been using abandoned buildings and unoccupied houses to avoid detection.

"The suspect is believed to have used public transportation such as bus and taxi to slip out of the Klang Valley to head for Johor, soon after the robbery-cum-murder on Oct 23," said Selangor police chief Mohd Shukri Dahlan.

"When in Johor, the man had also tried to obtain help from a syndicate to get a fake passport to escape to a neighbouring country."

A stall-holder, Saari Ahmad, 47, in the village where the suspect had holed up expressed shock at the news.

"I only heard about the capture around 10am from friends and reporters. Of course, I was shocked because I never heard a word about it before," said Saari, who added that the village was not a gateway for people who wanted to enter or exit the country illegally.

Arrest won't bring Norzaita back to life - husband

Meanwhile, the family of the slain bank officer Norazita Abu Talib expressed relief at the arrest and the closure it would bring to them.

"I hope he gets the punishment he deserves for the crime he committed. I am glad there is justice but it won't bring her back," husband Irwan Kamaruddin was reported as saying by Bernama.

According to Irwan, he misses his wife and dreamed of her recently.

The couple had 2 children Nurnisa Nabilah, 12, and Mohd Hazimy, 8.

"Now that there are only 3 of us, we can feel the loss of her presence. They still remember and start to cry when they look at her picture. They are still small and it takes time to understand the reality of what has happened. I myself have dreamed of my late wife," said Irwan.

Malaysia Chronicle