cheahsoonhai

Gerakan concern with robbery in front of police station

Dr Cheah Soon Hai urges police to buck up

 
 

Press statement by

Gerakan Central Bureau on Environment, Safety and Quality of Life Chairman

Dr Cheah Soon Hai

 
 

20 February 2013

 
 

Gerakan Central Bureau on Environment, Safety and Quality of Life Chairman, Dr Cheah Soon Hai expressed his dismay when news of a goldsmith robbery took off in front of a police station in Selayang Baru came to his knowledge.

 
 

"This is one of the many robbery cases happening in Malaysia , but criminals are getting bolder by the day. By conducting the robbery in front of a police station, it shows that they have absolutely no fear of the peacekeepers."

 
 

Dr Cheah pointed out that if houses or shops in front of a police station's vicinity are also targeted by criminals, what more of those located further away. "This showed that mere police presence is inadequate to deter criminals from acting."

 
 

"If the police are unable to protect our streets, it is no wonder Malaysians fear for their own safety all the time. Frustrations will soon boil over, forcing many to take the law into their own hands upon apprehending a criminal. This is one of the reasons why we hear so many criminals being bashed by the public in case of being caught."

 
 

Cheah who is also Kedah Derga state-assemblyman said that the action of a worker giving chase to the robbers is a brave move but risky considering the fact that both robbers were armed with parangs. "Luckily there is no one hurt in this unfortunate incident."

 
 

He added that certain measures such as CCTV's have to be installed in shops that are considered high risk such as banks, goldsmiths, pawn brokers and also money changers to provide evidence in case of a robbery.

 
 

Finally, he suggested mandatory jail term and stiffer minimum penalty for repeating offenders in cases of robbery, snatch and manhole cover theft must be given out to serve as a deterent.