MALAYSIAN JOKE OF THE DAY

I have a good laugh this morning when reading this piece of news. The headlines in the Singapore newspaper is 'Malaysian crime rate down sharply'. I was amazed so I check for more details in Bernama (where else to find Malaysian good news?). How sharp is it huh? You can read the full news below but I highlighted the portion in red.

Najib said that since the NKRAs were announced last year with the target to reduce the crime rate by five per cent by 2010, the initiative had begun to show positive results with a drop of 13 per cent in the crime rate for the first two months this year compared with the corresponding period last year.

Now, what does that tell you? 13% drop, very sharp indeed. The perception of the general public is that the police is not performing better. In constrast, there has been an increase of gated communities and housings with security these few years. Go around Johor Bahru and see for yourself the advertisements for houses, apartments and condominiums. The biggest selling point is 24 hour security, some even put in the ad that they have full CCTV coverage. I dare the government to ban any gated or security housing and see if the crime rate can still fall sharply. People have given up on the police, staying away from the streets. You don't believe me? Go down the community and survey as many people as you want. I will be surprised if their perception is crime rate has dropped sharply and it is because the police are doing their jobs. I don't feel any safer in Johor Bahru since I first stayed there till now (almost 4 years already). My doctor friend in Johor Bahru does not report to me that his business is getting very bad lately because crime rate has fallen beyond recognition that there are no crime victims to go for treatment.

March 25, 2010 13:06 PM

Najib Announces Incentives For Police Personnel


KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 (Bernama) -- The government has agreed to pay a monthly allowance of RM200 to about 33,000 police officers and personnel performing general duties.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, in making the announcement today, said it would involve an additional allocation of RM84 million a year.

He also had good news for personnel with the ranks of constable to corporal who will enjoy promotions based on a time-based service scheme.

Under the amendment to the service circular 2009, personnel with the rank of constable would be promoted to lance corporal after three years' service, he said that the 203rd Police Day celebration at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) here.

A lance corporal would be promoted to corporal after five years' service.

"This improvement initiative will involve over 52,000 personnel of other ranks," he said.

Present were Najib's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Inspector-Genreal of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan and Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar.

In his speech, Najib also proposed that outstanding police stations be given special recognition based on their performances and achievements.

"What's given today is to show the government's support for the contributions of the police personnel in serving the people and country and to give them motivation," he said.

Besides that, he stressed the three main values -- integrity,effectiveness and outcome -- that all members of the Royal Malaysia Police should observe in carrying out their duties to the society, especially to ensure that the country was peaceful and safe.

He said these three values were important in efforts to reduce the crime rate, which was one of the six national key result areas (NKRAs).

"Reducing crime is one of the national missions which are an important agenda for the government. The task is not only the responsibility of the police but also the home minister and I as the head of government who is also responsible to the people to achieve this objective," he said.

Najib said that since the NKRAs were announced last year with the target to reduce the crime rate by five per cent by 2010, the initiative had begun to show positive results with a drop of 13 per cent in the crime rate for the first two months this year compared with the corresponding period last year.

This provided great motivation to continue the momentum to achieve the key performance indicator (KPI), he said.

"If we want to succeed in fighting crime, we have to ensure that we are strong in all aspects and not only in terms of personnel and the three values but also in terms of new skills like technology and the best communication equipment," he said.

He cited the example of the mobile police station which must have more efficient communication equipment so that the personnel could easily communicate and take quick action whenever a crime occurred.

-- BERNAMA