KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said crime prevention efforts need the close cooperation of everyone especially the local community.
LAUNCHED: Najib launching the Community Policing programme watched by Rosmah, organising chairman Kuan Chee Heng (third right) and Hishammuddin (second right). — Bernama photo
“In line with the 1Malaysia spirit, anything that needs to be carried out, whether to develop the country or efforts to check crime would be more successful if there is cooperation from all the ethnic groups,” he said at the launch of the Community Policing for the Selangor state level in Puchong, near here Saturday night.
He said that in crime-prevention efforts, the people could play a role as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the police and take proactive measures in resolving social problems before they deteriorated into crime.
“If we just depend on the government, we will not achieve the level of success that we hope for. We must give our cooperation to the police.
“We must make our contribution in fighting crime, because it is our common responsibility,” he said.
Najib said if the community was conscious about their own safety, they could work to take extra precautions to prevent crime from happening, such as by installing anti-theft devices in their vehicles and alarm system at home, while the local governments could make efforts to implement the safe city concept.
“I am confident that if we work together, we can create a safer and more conducive environment to live in, and we will be able to see a sharp reduction in the crime rate,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the implementation of the National Key Result Areas (NKRA) in curbing crime also showed the government’s commitment in reducing the crime rate whereby last year, the crime rate was reduced by 15 per cent, exceeding the target of five per cent set while street crime was reduced by 35 per cent.
Meanwhile in Selangor, the crime rate had reduced by 10 per cent last year, he said.
The function was attended by almost 10,400 people including the prime minister’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein Onn, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar, Deputy Finance Minister 1 Datuk Donald Lim and Selangor Chief Police Officer Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah.
Najib also said he was impressed by the large attendance of the various races at the function, adding that this showed the 1Malaysia spirit was still alive in the hearts of Malaysians.
This showed that the people were prepared to put aside politics to achieve a common goal which, in this context, was crime prevention, in line with the 1Malaysia concept.
He said although the use of the 1Malaysia symbol and logo was prohibited in public places by the Selangor state government, this did not prevent the people in the state from supporting and upholding 1Malaysia.
“What is important is not the symbol or logo. What is important is the 1Malaysia spirit that is alive in the hearts of Malaysians.” — Bernama