NEGLECTED FACILITY: This rail seems to be ignored as none of the motorcycles are chained and locked to it.
SIBU: Local authorities have been urged to make available more parking racks for riders to chain and lock their motorcycles to help curb the increasing cases of motorcycle thefts.
Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye
In making this call yesterday, Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) vice chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye stressed it was equally important for the authorities to promote the facility so that the public would utilise it.
According to police statistics here, 127 motorcycles went missing during the first 80 days of this year alone, a staggering figure as motorcycles thefts accounted for nearly 40 per cent of Sibu’s crime index.
Sibu police chief ACP Shafie Ismail had expressed concern over the rising number of cases as on average two motorcycles were reported missing daily.
“You see, motorcycle thefts are rampant in almost every state in the country and on the uptrend. Therefore, more measures need to be taken to curb the menace and bring down the crime.
“Some forms of locking device can be introduced by the local authorities, including providing a facility for motorcycle owners to chain their machines as an added security measure. It would certainly be good if more motorcycle barricade locks can be erected in as many places as possible,” Lee suggested.
Daniel Ngieng
Based on his understanding, he said motorcycle thefts were usually committed by teenagers, who used them for a ‘joy’ ride.
“There are also people who steal bikes to cannibalise for parts, selling them to motorcycle repair shops,” he pointed out.
Lee recalled the foundation recently organised a programme in Malacca to get the local authority to provide barricades for locking motorcycles.
Ministry of Local Government and Community Development permanent secretary Datu Dr Penguang Manggil told The Borneo Post that they had plans to erect more of such racks under the safe city concept but said they lacked funds for it.
Lee, however, pointed out that the exercise required the cooperation of motorcycle owners to be successful by buying good locks and chains.
Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) deputy chairman Daniel Ngieng admitted that the facility provided was underutilised.
Datu Dr Penguang Manggil
“Perhaps, some people may feel it is too inconvenient to chain their bikes to the barricade. But the facility is provided to help safeguard their property,” Ngieng bemoaned.
An observation at the parking rack erected at the town centre beside Chung Hua Kindergarten noted that out of the 20 motorcycles parked there, only one was chained to it, while the one at a shopping mall along Pedada Road was barely used.
To this, Lee suggested: “Local authorities need to promote the facility in order to get people’s cooperation to use it. Motorcyclists themselves too need to be proactive in taking additional steps to safeguard their bikes and not leave everything to the police or authorities.”