MCPF: Police must work to clear negative public perception
KUCHING: The police should take serious and continuous efforts to improve public perception towards the force.
This opinion came from Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation ( MCPF) senior vice chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, who said the police had to clear the misconception since they had managed to reduce the crime index by 47 per cent since 2008.
“Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi recently said the public still regarded the crime rate in the country as high although it had significantly dropped.
“Zahid, who is the Home Minister, had also advised the police to tackle the negative perception of the force when he opened a seminar on the issue, which was jointly organised by the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) and his ministry.
“Based on Pemandu’s survey, most Malaysians still do not feel safe and only 10 per cent of them believe that the crime index has dropped,” he said in a media statement yesterday.
Lee said the MCPF wished to recognise the success of the police in reducing the overall crime rate through the implementation of the Government Transformation Programme ( GTP), which also reflected the government’s seriousness in reducing crime.
To help discard the negative perception, he asserted that the police must strengthen their cooperation and interaction with the community, non- governmental organisations ( NGOs) and the private sector.
“They must also address the public’s fear of becoming a victim of crime and increase public confidence in law enforcement officers. Police need to be sensitive to public perception and must do everything possible within their jurisdiction to help strengthen the people’s confidence in the police force.
“There is no denying that the ‘turun padang’ or go to the ground approach is the best way for police personnel to meet and interact with the community, as what is being practised by the InspectorGeneral of Police and some of the state and district police chiefs,” he said.
Lee also proposed that police patrol duties must also include ‘stop and greet’ sessions, which is a very effective way to engage with the people.
He stressed that the people had high expectations of the police in ensuring their safety, security and well-being, and that the police must respond to this challenge and must always be prepared to serve the public professionally and with high integrity.
The crime index, he pointed out, should act as a reminder that the public must always take care of their safety and be vigilant at all times.