DAP to move
motion of urgent, definite public importance in Parliament on Monday to pay
tribute to Rosli Mohd Said for his public spiritedness and establish a Rosli
Award in his memory to honour members of public for their contribution to
roll back the crime wave Media Statement by Lim Kit Siang (Petaling Jaya, Friday): I have today given notice to the Speaker, Tun Mohamed Zahir Ismail to move a motion of urgent definite public importance when Parliament reconvenes on Monday to pay tribute to van-driver Rosli Mohd Said, 36, for his public-spiritedness and sacrificing his life when he tried to catch a snatch-thief in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday and to establish a Rosli Award in his memory to honour members of the public for their contribution in rolling back the crime wave in the country. My motion stressed that three deaths from snatch-thefts in the past five weeks – as compared to an average one death a year from snatch-thefts in the past five years - should be the final wake-up call for Parliament, the Cabinet, the Police and the entire civil society to declare a genuine all-out war against the double rise in the crime rate and the fear of crime among Malaysians, who have lost the fundamental rights of personal safety and community security and who no longer feel safe whether for themselves or their loved ones whether in the streets, public places or even in the privacy of their homes. Parliament, the Cabinet, the Police and the civil society should ensure that the three fatal victims of snatch thefts in the past five weeks, Chin Wai Fung, 38 in Kuala Lumpur on May 22; Chong Fee Cheng, 37 in Johore Baru on June 12 and Rosli Mohd Saad, 36 in Kuala Lumpur on June 29 should not die in vain and that there should not be another death from snatch thefts – whether as victims or in the attempt to apprehend the snatch-thieves. Recent news items about the crime wave should abolish any doubt about the gravity of the escalating crime situation in the country, and why it warrants being given top priority when Parliament reconvenes next week, viz:
My motion called on Parliament, the Cabinet, the Police and the civil society to restore Malaysia to the Public Safety Index of the pre-1990s when Malaysia was a comparatively safe country and when the nation’s leaders could publicly mock and decry the serious crime situation in Western capitals like London and New York. Today, New York and London are safer than Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya and Johore Baru. Monday is an occasion for MPs from all political parties to take an united and common stand to declare that “Enough is Enough” in the escalation of crime in our country since the past decade, and for a new national resolve and political will to be shown by Parliament and the Cabinet to roll back the crime wave in the country, to make the streets, public places and the privacy of homes safe again for citizens, visitors and tourists. Parliament on Monday should begin a serious debate to ensure that Malaysia has a world-class police force in efficiency, professionalism and productivity which could get the full co-operation of the citizenry to make crime a minimal problem with the people enjoying both personal safety and community security as before the 90s.
(2/7/2004) * Lim Kit Siang, Parliamentary Opposition Leader, Member of Parliament for Ipoh Timor & DAP National Chairman |