What do you think?
Until the next time, cheers.
The Star, Thursday, 7 July 2011
RESIDENTS of Taman Dusun Setia in Seremban are not convinced with a police statement that the crime index in the 40-year-old housing area is very much under control.
According to the statement by Seremban district Crime Investigation Department chief Deputy Supt Ramlan Abdul Raza dated Dec 17, 2010, the number of cases was down to one last year compared with seven in the previous year.
DSP Ramlan had said that the improvement was due to spot checks and random patrolling by the police in the area.
The statistics may sound pleasing, but the residents who are subjected to thefts and break-ins in recent times are not convinced and want the police to increase their patrolling in the area especially at night.
Sundry shop owner Veerasamy Tavagrass, 61, said his shop was broken into twice this year and fearing for the safety of his family who are staying on the first floor of the shophouse, he had to move them to a guarded residential area in Seremban 2.
“The problem is getting worse and we are surprised with the police statement that the crime index is down. It is no longer safe to even walk alone in the dark,’’ said Veerasamy.
Veerasamy said he had made police reports on the recent break-ins at his shop and the police only conducted investigations two days later on both occasions.
“The residents are willing to help the police but the latter should also improve on their efficiency in conducting investigations when a police report is made,’’ added Veerasamy.
Another resident Peter Anthony, 60, was also unhappy with the way the police have been conducting their investigation.
“So many reports have been made and these numbers did not show in their statistics. I have been staying here for 30 years and the place is no longer safe ,” said Anthony.
He said he had contemplated moving out but did not have the resources.”All we can do is ask the police to increase their patrolling in the area,” he said.
Anthony’s views were echoed by Jayaprakash Jayachandran, 30.
Jayachandran said he has been living there since he was three and had seen the area’s crime situation deteriorating from bad to worse.
“Sometimes we hear screams in the night along the main road. When there is a robbery there is little we can do to help the victims as we might come face-to-face with armed robbers. Everything just happens too fast,’’ added Jayachandran.
He said the number of abandoned units in the area had increased and served as an advantage for would-be intruders.
According to Seremban MP John Fernandez, at least 10% of the total number of units in the area are abandoned while some have never been occupied.
“There are certain areas where there are more than two or three abandoned units in a row and long-time residents are not happy with it.
“The houses are unkempt and a source of breeding ground for mosquitoes and other pests,’’ said Fernandez.
He said the residents also had to put up with illegal garbage dumping along the main roads in the housing area and a complaint to the Seremban Municipal Council (MPS) in November last year, yielded no results.
Fernandez said he would once again meet the police and MPS. He would forward a request to TNB to improve the street lights especially at the main entrance of Taman Dusun Setia where break-in victim Veerasamy’s shophouse is located.
When contacted, Seremban district police chief ACP Saiful Azly Kamaruddin said he was aware of the problems there.
“Their grievances are noted. I will ask the OCS in the area to increase their patrolling in the residential areas,’’ said ACP Saiful.
He said the residents were also advised to forward their complaints to the local Beat Base at 06-6014999 to enable immediate action by the police.
The district police chief added that residents should not hold back on their complaints and reports all cases immediately so that the department was kept abreast of the latest crime statistics of the area
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