Kota Kinabalu: Sabahans are urged to take measures to curb crime seriously, taking heed of the recent trend in violent crimes in Peninsular Malaysia. Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) national exco member Tan Sri Robert Phang (pic) said, Monday, Sabahans should play their respective roles to block such trends happening here.
He noted that Sabah is still relatively safe, adding that criminal activities are still limited to petty crimes like break-ins.
"But we need to wake upÉ and initiate relations with all of our neighbours, set up neighbourhood patrols, associations and notify the police each time we go out on holidays," he told a MCPF press conference here.
Phang felt the escalating crime rate and violence in the peninsula was somehow related to the release of 2,017 underworld bosses, after the Government decided to repeal the Emergency Ordinance (EO) in 2011.
"The order was created to detain 'taikos' who cannot be charged due to insufficient evidence to charge them," he said.
He said that crimes were so rampant that even taxi drivers became victims while young girls were abducted and raped.
However, Phang said the Government, especially Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, is doing its best to zero down criminal activities in the country.
He said the first reading of a new Bill against crime will be held in the September parliament sitting. However, the effort very much rests on the commitment of the people to stop crimes in the country.
Phang added there are two handy items that can prevent crime - an umbrella and a whistle. He said the whistle can attract attention of others, while the umbrella can be used as to keep snatch thieves away.
Phang also said MCPF is ready to hold dialogues on crime prevention with local residential associations, saying he can be contacted through his email at support@ emcpf. org or call 03 - 2260 1954.
"We will only hold the dialogues with residential groups and it will be held for free," he said.
Meanwhile, the break-in at the office of lawyer-businessman Datuk Ambrose Lee on July 16 resembles the work of an organised crime group.
Lee listed a number of interesting clues, which led to the notion.
He was present at the press conference.
On July 26 police believed they had solved the case including several other break-ins here following the arrest of 11 locals including three women after Lee's security guard lodged a report on July 16.
Police seized items worth RM300,000 including foreign currencies including ten Singapore Dollar notes worth 10,000 each.
The foreign notes were retrieved from a moneychanger outlet in 1Borneo in the investigation, while a number of individuals have been quizzed including the moneychanger.
Lee pointed out it was not easy to change the foreign notes, saying the group had managed to do so by opting for a lower rate from the money changer.
He said the notes were registered and it's 'interesting' as to why the moneychanger did not ask where the notes came from.
"They were also found to have been renting homes belonging to foreigners," he said.
