Kota Kinabalu: City Police’s new bicycle beat expands patrol areas here over the weekends and public holidays.
City Police Chief ACP Kasim Muda said for starters, a team of six would be divided into three groups to cover the city’s concentrated zones.
“This will display police presence, especially from the Tanjung Aru to Likas Bay areas via the bike track.
“The public will be instilled with a sense of security and criminal activities would be deterred.
“At the same time, police officers on patrol can immediately react to the public’s problems, if any,” he said during the launch at the Tanjung Aru Police Station, last Saturday.
Kasim said, for now, they only ride on the weekends and holidays as this is when the public and tourists flock to the city.
“We ride from 4pm to 10pm. We still have a few spare bikes and will continue expanding based on the public’s reaction,” he added.
His next plan, he said, is to empower women through policewomen who may soon be on a new motorcycle scooter patrol team.
Meanwhile, Kasim said the reintroduction of patrol-based police crime busting operations, dubbed “Op Payung”, effectively decreased crime rates.
“We have 15 teams in Op Payung which managed to reduce 20 crime cases to 15 in March. The latest figure in May is 12 cases.
“Most cases involved breaking and entry into business premises not involving public property.
“Only one case of robbery or snatch theft was recorded throughout the operational period and even that was after midnight when patrols ended,” he said.
Kasim advised the public not to walk alone or through dimly lit areas as it provides the opportunity for crime.
