Implement the 10 strategic thrusts of the Royal Commission on the police,14.2.2007.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw urges the police to embrace earnestly the ten strategic thrusts contained in the Report of The Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of The Royal Malaysia Police.

Strategic Thrust 2 is to launch a nation-wide drive against crime. Strategic Thrust 3 is to enhance investigative policing.

Dr Tan watches the special operation launched by the police yesterday to pursue the group of robbers who commit break-ins freely. The Director of Criminal Investigation Department, Datuk Christopher Wan Soo Kee has directed officers and constables in the whole country to double their effort to cripple break-in activities. We hope that he increases the efforts on all crimes in the country, consistent with the above-stated strategic thrusts.

Yesterday, the Chief of Traffic Squad, Bukit Aman, Datuk Nooryah Md. Anvar began placing uniformed police personnel in express buses selected at random until 25 February, 2007. This is one of the steps in the Ops Sikap XII during the Chinese New Year. Simultaneously, the Road Transport Department carries out Ops Balck Spot at accident-prone areas. Let us hope that these will improve road safety.

Many cases of break-ins take place including five robbers armed with knives wounding the former Chief Police Officer of Penang, Datuk Albert Ma, on 9 February, 2007. He died on 12 February, 2007 at the age pf 82. We express our condolences to his relatives.

The public must understand the situation. The lack of officers and other personnel must be overcome. The Cabinet has approved the increase of 60,000 police personnel in the next five years. At present, police personnel on active duty may be over 70,000. The Cabinet approval is a correct decision. Further, we must raise the police pay.

Besides increasing the number and pay of police personnel, we must know to what extent have the police adopted the 10 strategic thrusts contained in the above-stated report, such as monernise the role, functions and organisation of the police, eradicate corruption and provide better work premises and housing.

Because the number of crimes causes anxiety, some housing estates have engaged private security firms to patrol their areas 24 hours a day. While the police are trained and protected by laws, these private firms are not necessarily trained or protected in the same way. Hence, it is necessary for the police to safeguard the public by drawing up guidelines for the people and the private firms.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw