Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/11/1/nation/15879312&sec=nation
Wednesday November 1, 2006
My neighbourhood cop
By LOURDES CHARLES and RASHITHA A. HAMID
KUALA LUMPUR: Every major housing estate will have a police pondok, with two policemen working and living there. This is what Inspector-General of police Tan Sri Musa Hassan plans to do to reduce crime.
Musa said he had forwarded a proposal to the Government and was awaiting approval.
I have asked all state police chiefs to do a comprehensive study on the number of housing estates in their respective states and to identify crime prone estates, he told newsmen after presenting a paper at Ikim yesterday.
We intend to have pondoks in these housing estates that will act as a police base for the residents to lodge reports without having to go to a police station, he said, adding that the policemen would be either corporals or sergeants and they would live on the upper floor of the pondoks.
Musa said the policemen should mingle with the residents, get to know the type of crimes plaguing the housing estates and take appropriate measures.
If possible, we would like developers of new housing estates to build these pondoks so that we can move our men in immediately, he added.
Whatever we can do to help the public, we will do but the public must cooperate with us in reducing crime.
In his talk on Social Problems Current Issues, Musa lashed out at Mat Rempits for not only being irresponsible on the roads but also for trying to introduce the American Hells’ Angels culture here.
He said the riders were not only known to be involved in drugs like ganja, syabu and heroin, but also in free sex.
This kind of behaviour is not part of our culture. We cannot allow such a culture to spread as it entice youth into a world of crime, Musa added.
He cited bad parenting skills as one reason for the rise in social problems and urged parents to be more responsible in bringing up their children. They should inculcate religious teachings and moral values in their children, he added.
The rise in the number of entertainment outlets too is a contributing factor to social problems involving youth.
The Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation, together with several universities, are doing research to identify the causes of social problems here so that appropriate action can be taken.
Meanwhile, several residents associations have welcomed the proposal for police pondoks.
Bandar Sungai Long Residents Association chairman Jeff Tung said residents in the township set up their own beat base two years ago but were still awaiting police presence.
Having policemen here will make it easier for residents to lodge reports, he said.
Taman Puchong Perdana Zone 17 Residents Association chairman Mohd Sarifuddin Johan said residents would feel more comfortable with a police base.
It will act as a deterrent to crime, he noted.
We only report to them in such an urgent matter such as there is a robbery going on in your neighbour house, so action can be taken fast. Treat them as the first responder.
