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DAP welcomes pay rise for cops but wants police to give top priority to eradicate the double rise in crime rate and the fear of crime Media Statement by Lim Kit Siang (Petaling Jaya,  Tuesday): DAP welcomes the pay rise for cops but wants the police to give top priority to eradicate the double rise in crime rate and the fear of crime, which has become the bane of present-day Malaysia. Both  new Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the new Inspector-General of Police, Datuk Seri Mohamad Bakri Omar  have yet to convince Malaysians that they have a new and effective strategy to counter the grave phenomenon of the fear of crime which has become the bugbear of Malaysians in recent years, whether for the safety of themselves or their loves ones as a result of the serious crime waves in the country.  Sunday’s papers for instance is a gruesome reminder to Malaysians that the country has become a very dangerous and unsafe country – with heinous killings in Johore Bahru and Penang. DAP calls on Bakri to urgently address  four challenges  to end the double rise in crime rate and the new fear of crime in the country and  to restore the people’s fundamental right to security and to feel safe in  the streets, public spaces and the privacy of their  homes.  These  challenges are:  Restoration of  public confidence in the professionalism, efficiency and effectiveness of the police service to reduce crime, the fear of crime and reassure the people about the safety of the streets, public spaces and homes. Police recognition and acceptance of the right of the people to demand accountability, transparency and higher standards in the delivery of one of the most basic functions of all governments through the ages – the police service to provide security and protection to the citizenry. Establishment of an independent Police Ombudsman who is not part of the Police force to conduct independent investigations into complaints against the police for abuses of power, including false arrests and trigger-happy police shootings and killings. Establishment of a National Policing Forum to provide a formal  structure to involve the various communities and the civil society to ensure a modern, professional, competent and responsive police force to deliver quality world-class police service to reduce crime, the fear of crime and reassure the people about the safety of streets, public places and the homes. (18/11/2003) * Lim Kit Siang, DAP National Chairman