Cops focus on two areas under ‘Safe City Concept’
SIBU: The police will focus on two areas here under the ‘Safe City Concept’ this year.
According to Sibu deputy police chief Supt Martin Koo, the attention on Sungei Merah and the area behind the central station — comprising Hua Khiew Road, Lai Chee Lane, Foochow Lane, Tong Sang Road and the pockets in between — is meant as a crime prevention initiative by the force.
“For this year, we will focus on these two areas as part of crime prevention initiative under Safe City Concept,” he said during a press conference held in conjunction with a blood donation drive at Star Mega Mall here yesterday.
The campaign, organised in connection with the 209th Police Day celebration, was run by the police headquarters here in collaboration with Sibu Blood Bank, Sarawak Community Policing Association Sibu and the management of the mall.
Adding to Koo’s statement, Sibu police chief ACP Mohd Kamal Kordi disclosed that his force had received the approval from the local authority on gazetting areas behind the central police station to make it a crimefree area.
He said as far as infrastructure such as pedestrian lanes, closedcircuit television (CCTV) and streetlights for the ‘Safe City Concept’ was concerned, these would be carried out by Sibu Municipal Council.
“The police would implement the crime prevention initiatives,” he said.
ACP Kamal also talked about their ongoing measures to reduce the crime rate here, with the focus on vehicle and motorcycle thefts.
“As at February this year, we registered 43 vehicle theft cases — a decline from 69 cases (in the same period) in 2015.”
The police chief also found the close correlation between motorcycle theft and drug addiction.
“In many cases, we discovered that drug addicts would steal the motorcycles and later sold them to middlemen to get money to buy drugs.
Many of these machines eventually ended up in plantations,” he said.
For housebreaking and general theft, he said this segment showed a slight increase to 33 cases as at end of February this year, from 29 in corresponding period last year.
ACP Kamal said they were also tackling violent crimes — about 34 cases in the first two months of this year against 25 in the same period last year.
“Violent crimes involve drug addicts threatening their family members for money to get their fix.
“For these families, I advise you against keeping silent about the whole thing.
“Don’t wait until they cause harm to lodge a police report.
“Inform the police or the AADK (National Anti-Drug Agency) so that appropriate action can be taken such as rehabilitation,” he said.
For this year, we will focus on these two areas as part of crime prevention initiative under Safe City Concept. — Supt Martin Koo, Sibu deputy police chief