CPI to be created to gauge society's perception on security level

A Crime Perception Indicator (CPI) will be created to help in crime prevention and improve the perception of society on the level of security.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said, this was to ensure the statistics on the drop in crime rate issued would not be disputed.

"Prior to this, the police were perceived as blowing their own trumpets when issuing such statistics.

"Perhaps, it may be better if the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) and Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) issued statements based on studies done.

"Pemandu is showing effort and commitment to help to ensure that there is a third party to voice the true achievement," he told reporters after attending a roundtable conference on crime prevention titled "Towards A safer Malaysia" here Tuesday.

Among those present were MCPF vice-chairman Lee Lam Thye and Malaysian Retired Senior Police Officers Association (Respa) president Datuk Mohd Ismail Che Rus.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said the perception of the people had never improved over the level of security but they had continued to raise dissatisfaction at the achievement of the Royal Malaysian Police.

He said this was despite a 40 percent drop in crimes since four years ago.

"Crime has dropped by 40 percent over the last four years while car thefts went down by 20 percent last year," he said.

Commenting further on the matter, he said four main components would become yardsticks, namely, signals, my space, amplifier and police services.

"These four factors along with the crime itself lead to the fear of crime... I believe by fixing or addressing these four components, public perception will improve," he said.

On the same matter, Ahmad Zahid said the police must be colour blind when they enforce the law.

During the event, an MoU was signed between MCPF, represented by Lee and Respa, by Mohd Ismail, witnessed by Ahmad Zahid.

The MoU, among others, would enable MCPF and Respa to cooperate closely to carry out activities and programmes in disseminating information to the public related to the issue of crime prevention.