MARCHING CHAMPIONS: Mun (centre) together with National Unity and Integration Department Kuching’s chief Syed Zyed Wan Asnawi (on Mun’s right) and SMK Petra Jaya Police Cadet members after the prize-giving ceremony.
KUCHING: Students should make an effort to participate in Crime Awareness Team (CAT’s) and ‘Rakan Cop’ as it can help them to improve their level of awareness about crimes.
Kuching police chief ACP Mun Kok Keong said CAT’s, which is organised by the Department of Youth and Sports, was an initiative under the National Key Result Areas (NKRA) to curb crime.
“The initiative, which was created from the crime laboratory, consists of young volunteers who assist the authorities in crime prevention activities,” said Mun during the Kuching Police Cadet Corps’ marching competition at SMK Matang Jaya yesterday.
Mun added that ‘Rakan Cop’, on the other hand, had taken a leaf from the ‘Broken Window Theory’ expounded by popular American crime specialists James Q. WIlson and Geoege L Kelling.
“The idea is that when a small crime or social problem occured in an area, the problem will turn ugly for the area if not addressed properly. That is why, through this programme, participants will channel any information on crimes or social problems direct to the authority.”
Describing members of the Police Cadet corps as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the police in and outside the school compound, Mun urged students to play their role and report to the authorities on any crime or misconduct happening around them.
On another matter, Mun said in bid to monitor the discipline of students in schools, the police had appointed school communication officers at all 156 primary and 43 secondary schools here.
“They served the function of middlemen between the school authorities and the police. The effort will definitely help in ensuring a high level of discipline among students as a more integrated workforce is in hand to handle disciplinary cases.”
He told those present that at the moment, 31 secondary schools, including Sunny Hill Private School, had formed Police Cadet corps.
In the competition, SMK Petra Jaya emerged champion while SM St Joseph came in second and SMK Semerah Padi third.
Held for the very first time, the marching competition was jointly organised by the Youth and Sports Department, National Unity and Integration Department, Education Department and the police.
A total of 335 students from 12 secondary schools participated in event.
Among those present were National Unity and Integration Department Kuching’s chief Syed Zyed Wan Asnawi and SMK Matang Jaya principle Sabtuyah Adenan.