(After PKR, the next Pakatan Rakyat component party that seems to be in trouble is DAP but are they? Image source: http://www.fahnenversand.de)
Well, according to a pro-BN blogger, I was not surprised to read this:-
In the same breath the Pakatan Gangsters conducted a candle light vigil against the ISA yesterday. The vigil was just a distraction – to divert attention away from the crap that is now hitting the fan: their links with gangsterism
Gangsterism is increasing in Selangor and consequently in Kuala Lumpur.
I attribute this directly to the Pakatan Gangster that is ruling Selangor. Almost everyday now we read of thugs and gangsterism in schools in Selangor.
(Source: OutSyed The Box)
Syed calls the Pakatan Rakyat politicians gangsters and says that they are the direct cause of crime in the state. But let me ask Syed this question – is the increase in crime in the state and in schools really attributed to Pakatan Rakyat running the state alone?
Then what about the police force and the Ministry of Education? What have they been doing lately on this issue?
Syed says gangsterism is increasing in Selangor and consequently in Kuala Lumpur. Where are the numbers to back this claim? We like to know too – so that we can analyse it and keep up the pressure on whoever is in charge in reducing the crime rate in the state.
Gangsterism affects us too. And as I recall, Kuala Lumpur despite an overwhelming win by Pakatan Rakyat, is still run by BN. So, the increase in gangsterism in Kuala Lumpur is also attributed to Pakatan Rakyat? If yes, does that mean someone else is not doing their job?
But still, in case Syed is still arguing that BN is better than Pakatan in combating crime, let me illustrate this:-
(Do I see an increasing trend even before 2008? Graph Source: CPPS)
And then in 2009, Malaysia Today reported this:-
In 2007, six (6) police officers and two (2) underworld figures signed Statutory Declarations alleging that senior police officers right up to the IGP have links with the Chinese drugs, prostitution, illegal gambling and loan-shark syndicate based in Johor and which was expanding its operation throughout Malaysia.
Another police officer made a police report alleging that his family was kidnapped by the ACA to force him to change his statement while the head of the CCD and his lawyer were arrested and charged for alleged criminal offenses as punishment for detaining underworld bosses under the Emergency Ordinance
This is no hearsay but rather statutory declarations and police reports. Do you still say that the increase in gangsterism is attributed to Pakatan Rakyat alone?
Syed said that a man hacked to death by thugs who tried to recruit his son into the gang and Syed “attribute this directly to the Pakatan Gangster that is ruling Selangor”.
Well, Syed – thanks for the heads up but since we are well wired these days, let me give you more disturbing examples that happened long before Pakatan took over the state (you can dig more on the net if you have the time):-
More than 40 residents of the housing estate gathered in front of the Selangor police headquarters to express their dissatisfaction over alleged police inaction on the reports they had lodged against gangsterism (2007)
(Source)
For Kuala Lumpur:-
Kuala Lumpur city police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Dell Akbar Khan said crimes involving students increased for the first eight months of this year: 141 violent and 668 property crime cases (2003)
(Source)
I recall seeing massage centres and nightclubs opening during Khir Toyo’s time as MB. I remember going to nightclubs in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur when Mahathir was still the PM. So, what is the difference between massage centres and nightclubs opening during Pakatan Rakyat’s time?
Licensing of these massage centres and nightclubs is determined by local authorities and if the people are not happy with massage centres and nightclubs opening at their place, then they need to bring this up to the local authorities.
But are you saying that more massage centres and nightclubs mean more crime for sure? What about other factors such as the high influx of illegal immigrants, lack of education & opportunity among the poor, poverty, lack of enforcement, short of manpower in the enforcement agencies, the existence of loopholes in the existing laws, the downturn of the economy and etc?
Come on Syed, I will agree if you say that Pakatan Rakyat is not doing enough monitoring and their politicians need to buck up on their duties but it hardly holds water if you are going to say that they are the SOLE cause of crime in the state. This is because the crime was also prevalent in the state when BN was ruling the state.
And it was not right to link the gangsterism with the recent anti-ISA vigil – it is 2 different things. Just as you have pro-ISA at your end, we have the anti-ISA at our end. The fact that ISA has been used for reasons other than what it was intended to be (i.e. fight against communists) is what the protest is all about. Still, remember Teresa Kok? Still, remember the infamous reporter who was arrested under ISA for “her own safety”?
We certainly do not want to let Mat Selamat walk free but if you are holding him for a reason, then formally charge him in the court of law with terrorism and hang him or send him away to prison or even better, extradite him back to Singapore. At least things will be more apparent and Mat Selamat, despite the danger that he may pose, have a chance to defend himself. Everyone has a right to defend himself under the law.
As I mentioned before, Pakatan Rakyat is not perfect – they have been a pain in the neck for the wrong reasons (more trouble in PKR than in DAP). But so does BN and they were reminded of this very obviously in the last general election. DAP disciplinary committee is hauling more people and that includes Ronnie Liu – so let’s see the outcome.
If what has been alleged turns out to be true, it will mark a dark day for Pakatan Rakyat in the state but at least things are being investigated in the open.
DAP knows what holds for them if they sweep this mess under the carpet – they will lose the confidence of even the strongest pro-Pakatan supporters in the next election. I don’t think DAP is going to for that option at the moment. Let get our facts straight – PR or BN, as taxpayers, we are in this together.