HOME MINISTRY TO LOWER POLICE TO POPULATION RATIO

DUNGUN (Malaysia), Aug 1 (Bernama) -- The policeman to people ratio is
still way behind compared to the international standard, said Home Minister
Hishamuddin Hussein.

He said the ratio set by Interpol was one policeman to 250 people but in
some parts of the country one policeman watched over about 6,000 local esidents.

"With such a ratio how can people blame the police when there is crime
committed?," he said while provding as example the Chabang Tiga police station
in Kuala Terengganu which he visited two days ago.

He told this to reporters after officiating the Dungun Umno (United Malays
National Organisation) division meeting in this east coast town Friday.

Hishammuddin said the government would continue increase the number of
policemen so that the ratio would be one policeman to 500 people.

He said his ministry would introduce new approaches to improve police
stations involving Rela and the Civil Defence Department to fight crime.

In another development, Hishammuddin said the involvement of various races
in the security forces was still needed in line with the 1Malaysia concept
introduced by Prime Minister Najib Razak.

"Crime does not see skin colour, religion and the status of a person. We can
be united under 1Malaysia to together fight crime," he said.
-- BERNAMA