More crimes last year, but fewer violent ones

The crime index increased by 7% last year but the number of violent crimes, especially armed robberies and robberies without firearms, dropped significantly.

Acting CID director Deputy Commissioner Datuk Acryl Sani Abdulah Sani said the main reason for the increase in the crime index was the rising number of property crimes, especially motorcycle theft.

“The number of murder cases too dropped from 606 in 2006 to 588 last year while rape cases increased by 29% from 2,454 cases in 2006 to 3,177 for the corresponding period last year.

“We are doing our best and will continue to do more patrols on foot, motorcycles and patrol cars,” he said.

DCP Acryl said the police had reduced the number of crime types in the index, from 18 to 14.

He said crimes like molestation, extortion, criminal intimidation and rioting (brawl involving at least five people) that was included in 2006 to reflect part of the crime index had been removed.

“There is no cover-up here as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, during Tuesday’s crime briefing, clearly said that we must be transparent and present the truth to the public,” he said.

DCP Acryl also said another reason for the rise in crimes reported was due to the confidence the public had in the police now.

He said it was the policy of the police to investigate all reports lodged and anyone who was turned away or given the runaround should contact the police control centre and provide the duty officer with details of when, where and by whom they were mistreated.

Abdullah had said on Tuesday during the briefing that the people must be kept informed of the actual crime situation and be told the truth.

“The people must be safe at all times and not live in fear of being a victim of crime,” he said.

The Prime Minister, who is also Internal Security Minister, expressed concern over the crime situation and his seriousness in wanting to fight crime.

He approved on-the-spot allocations for the police to purchase vehicles, hire retired policemen, and lease or rent shoplots for use as police stations.

Miros: Lorry extensions dangerous

Extensions, or overhangs, that allow small trucks and lorries to carry longer and heavier loads are death traps on the roads.

Most of the overhangs also do not have proper or well-located reflectors, which add to the danger posed to other motorists.

Malaysian Institute for Road Safety Research (Miros) director-general Prof Dr Radin Umar Radin Sohadi said the overhangs were not only at the same height as a car's windshield but also had a lot of space underneath, which means a car keeps moving after impact. “When a car collides with the rear of such a lorry or truck, there is no bumper-to-bumper impact.

“Instead, the overhang slams straight into where the drivers and passengers are sitting.

“This must be rectified before more lives are lost,” he said.

Prof Radin Umar was referring to an incident on Wednesday when 45-year-old Jamaliah Jawan was killed after colliding into a lorry's overhang near the Tapah rest area on the North-South Expressway. The lorry was laden with metal roof frames.

“The Miros crash investigation team checked the accident site and vehicles involved on Friday. This is the fifth fatal case involving overhangs that Miros has investigated since last year,” he said.

Prof Radin Umar said Miros, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and the Road Safety Department were now studying the design of trucks and lorries with overhangs to ensure no more lives are lost.

“There should be rear-end designs to cover what is exposed so that a car would not go underneath the truck or lorry andinstead collide with a bumper, thereby preventing the overhang from penetrating the passenger compartment.”

Prof Radin Umar said the results of investigations showed that the problem had to be dealt with, especially in improving crash compatibility.