Voon Shiak Ni
KUCHING: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has called on Padawan Municipal Council and Padawan District police to act instead of only giving words of assurance in a bid to combat illegal gambling dens and copper thefts in the area.
Its women national vice-president Voon Shiak Ni said while it was a positive move for Padawan district police and the council to have close partnership in combating crimes in the area, the people would appreciate it more if action was taken to combat the two activities.
“It is good and positive for inter departmental dialogues to deliberate on problems and issues affecting the people but what is most important is the action taken,” Voon said in a press statement received here yesterday.
According to her, she received a few messages asking how could there still be illegal gambling outlets or ‘fishing outlets’ operating in their neighbourhoods if the the district police and the council were serious about combating it.
“I cannot speak for the police and the council but I believe the community will applaud their actions if due action is taken.”
Voon said the people also noticed that Local Government Minister and Batu Kawah assemblyman Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian had recently held a dialogue session with Padawan District police on the illegal gambling issue.
Therefore, she said those living in Batu Kawah New Township and Taman Desa Wira were waiting for him to close down all illegal gambling outlets in the areas.
“Ministers, local authorities and police can hold dialogues but all these will amount to nothing and will further frustrate the people if no action is taken after that. Therefore, they should act now!
“As I have mentioned in my earlier statement on the eve of New Year’s Day, we do acknowledge that some efforts have been taken by the police (in Padawan) and local authority in combating illegal activities and crimes.
“However, the mushrooming of illegal gambling dens at commercial areas and shoplots in the city has raised eyebrows and the worse part is that the activities are continuing with public knowledge,” Voon said.
Voon noted that the police in Miri had recently held ‘Ops Dadu’ and wondered when a similar operation would be held in Padawan area.
“I am mentioning Padawan area because those areas that are plagued by the vices like Batu Kawah New Township, Taman Desa Wira, Kota Sentosa/ Mile 7 and all the way to Mile 10 are under Padawan Municipal Council. We have received feedback that many of the illegal gambling centres in the areas are still in operation.”
On the enforcement of the Second Hand Dealers Act, Voon said the police should also pay attention to the crimes and deter such thefts in Padawan area.
“It has been a couple of years since the Act has been extended to Sarawak and if it is a problem of tracing the culprits, then necessary system and mechanism need to be formulated as soon as possible.”
Similar to efforts in combating illegal gambling dens, the Act would be meaningless if it was not followed up by effective enforcement by the police, she said.