‘Crime index drops but public perception of police unchanged’

KUALA LUMPUR: The crime index for the whole country has reduced by between 4.2 per cent and 12.6 per cent from 2011 to 2015 but public perception of the police force has remained unchanged, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said yesterday.

“Some among us do not want to acknowledge the fact that the police have discharged their duty well. At the same time, some media also do not want to acknowledge this fact and achievement,” he said when replying to a question from Senator Chia Song Cheng in the Dewan Negara.

Chia had wanted to know the crime statistics for the whole country and the efforts of the Home Ministry to improve public perception of the fight against crime.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the home minister, said the drop in the crime index was the result of crime-reduction programmes undertaken by the police through various approaches, including prevention, combating and prosecution.

“The police always strive to reduce the crime index and are committed to cooperating with all enforcement agencies to achieve targets,” he said.

Replying to a supplementary question, from Senator Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Wan Omardin, on the mass media’s alleged portrayal of negative news on national security, Ahmad Zahid said negative news did not necessarily mean that it was associated with evil intentions.

“Despite differences of opinion, facts should be acknowledged. I see this situation as politicising something rejected as fact. Such matters should be evaluated objectively by society itself,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid said various measures were taken to combat crime, including modernising crime-prevention efforts, increasing assets and equipment such as by installing hightech closed- circuit television cameras in risk-prone areas, and collaborating with the local authorities.

Some among us do not want to acknowledge the fact that the police have discharged their duty well. At the same time, some media also do not want to acknowledge this fact and achievement. Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Deputy Prime Minister