‘Poca reduced crime rate’
> Act has helped decrease figures by unprecedented 47%, says Zahid
PUTRAJAYA: The government’s decision to reinforce the Prevention of Crime Act (Poca) with amendments relevant to current needs has resulted in a significant drop in the country’s crime index, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“Since the Act came into force in 2014, the country has achieved an unprecedented reduced crime rate of 47%,” he said during the launch of his book Poca: Nafas Baharu Banteras Jenayah (A New Approach in Crime Prevention) at the Marriot Putrajaya yesterday.
“This success, according to police analysis, was due to the effectiveness of Poca in crime prevention activities.”
In defending the amendments to Poca, Ahmad Zahid criticised parties who were against such changes, saying that they are practising double standards.
“The amendments (were resisted) by people claiming to be human rights defenders.
“However, the truth is that they are wolves in sheep clothing who choose to defend criminals instead.”
Ahmad Zahid, who is also home minister, said prior to the amendments, the police had a tough time in conducting Ops Cantas due to the limitations of laws to back them up.
The government then collected input from various quarters including the public, civil societies, academicians, lawmakers and enforcement officers to revive Poca.
“We could have just referred to the Attorney-General’s Chambers to quicken the process. But we did it through a series of engagements, townhall sessions, as well as academic discourse.
“This is because the amendments to Poca is for the people and not for the government.”
The 315-page book is an authoritative reference on Poca, featuring a compilation of the Hansard debates on amendments to the Act in the Dewan Rakyat.
The latest amendment to Poca was passed by the Dewan Rakyat last week, and included the reappointment of board members without conditions for any period of time.
The amendments also imposes penalties for damaged or lost electronic monitoring devices and empowers the courts to impose jail terms on those who default on payments for such damage or loss.