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Najib pledges to clamp down on ‘brazen’ crime

PUTRAJAYA — Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak pledged yesterday that the police would clamp down on “brazen” crime as the authorities hunted for contract killers, who allegedly gunned down a bank founder in broad daylight in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak wants immediate police action to restore the public’s confidence. Photo: The Malaysian Insider

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak wants immediate police action to restore the public’s confidence. Photo: The Malaysian Insider

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PUTRAJAYA — Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak pledged yesterday that the police would clamp down on “brazen” crime as the authorities hunted for contract killers, who allegedly gunned down a bank founder in broad daylight in Kuala Lumpur.

Fuelling fears of rising violent crime, the death of Arab Malaysian Banking Group founder Hussain Ahmad Najadi, 75, on Monday came two days after an anti-crime activist was shot by unknown assailants at a traffic junction.

Mr R Sri Sanjeevan, head of a crime watch non-government organisation, MyWatch, was fighting for his life in hospital yesterday. In a third, recent high-profile case, a senior customs official was shot dead in April.

Mr Najib said yesterday: “I am very concerned with the latest incidents, where murders using firearms occurred in a very brazen manner. The police must take immediate action to restore public confidence and the government will provide whatever is necessary for them to enhance their capacity to fight serious and organised crimes.

“This matter can be brought up at the next Parliament session. We cannot allow the situation to persist.”

Opposition lawmaker Lim Kit Siang said the killings threatened to damage Malaysia’s reputation. He said Malaysians have long complained about rising thefts and robberies, but crime now appears to be getting worse.

“It is really worrying for all Malaysians. The government must make fighting crime a top priority and band all resources to make the country safe again,’’ he said.

The police said yesterday that disputed property deals could have played a part in Mr Najadi’s killing, and that they believed three men were responsible for the attack.

“The shooter, we have his photo, but the men behind, we have to investigate. We believe the shooter is a contract killer,” Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohmad Salleh told reporters.

The government has claimed that crime has fallen in the past two years. But Mr Sanjeevan and opposition leaders, including Mr Lim, say the statistics have been manipulated by the authorities.

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, whose home was recently burgled, has said the crime situation was “serious”. The Home Ministry is mulling over the procurement of more surveillance equipment for the police force, in light of the recent spate of street crimes.

Malaysia’s drive for a new law to replace the abolished Emergency Ordinance earlier this month drew strong debate in Parliament. The Emergency Ordinance (EO) was one of several laws allowing detention without trial that were repealed by Mr Najib as part of his reforms.

The police have sometimes said the abolition of the EO — used on criminals, gangsters and loan sharks — led to a spike in violent crimes.

The recent shootings should not be blamed on the police as they face a shortage in manpower and equipment compared to other developed countries, said Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday.

“For example, in New York, a policeman serves 35 residents, while a policeman in Malaysia serves 700 residents,” he said.

KL police chief Mohmad, however, insisted that the police could maintain public security. “Security forces have things under control. If you want to go out late at night, we are still safe,” he said, when asked about the rising violence.

A 30-second video reportedly taken minutes after Mr Najadi was shot dead has been uploaded onto a Facebook page, garnering some strongly negative responses, The Star reported. A woman, believed to be his 49-year-old wife who was injured in the attack on the couple, is seen cradling his head on her lap.

The gunman and two accomplices fled in a taxi, police said.

Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said yesterday that initial investigations had led police to the startling claim that the suspects behind the attempted murder of MyWatch Chairman Sanjeevan could have been his own friends, The Malaysian Insider reported.

Mr Sanjeevan, 29, had spoken of death threats against him and alleged police links with crime syndicates. Police previously said that his shooting might have been by criminals set on revenge. AGENCIES

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