COMMUNITY involvement is needed apart from the efforts of the police to help ensure the safety of one’s neighbourhood, says Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
In this respect, he praised Seri Delima assemblyman Syerleena Abd Rashid and her Seri Delima MPKK (Village Community Development Council) for organising a Neighbourhood Watch programme in Island Glades today to create a safe environment.
“As eyes and ears of the state government, the Island Glades MPKK is proactive and by having this Neighbourhood Watch programme, they aim to strengthen the relationship between the community and the police.
“This will create a peaceful environment as well as strengthen the local security.
“It is impossible for the government to do everything. So, the involvement of the community, the private sector and the NGOs (non-governmental organisations) is necessary.
“One of the greatest assets in Penang is the strong community spirit. Ask any Penangite, they love Penang so much that they want to contribute to the state.
“They want to ensure their home and neighbourhood is safe,” Chow said during his speech at the opening of the Seri Delima Neighbourhood Watch programme at Karpal Singh Neighbourhood Park in Lorong Delima 11.
Chow also praised the Penang chief police officer Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain for an unprecedented two-hour talk with him recently to look at how the state government and the police could collaborate so that Penang would be safe.
He said he was also pleased to learn from the North East District police chief Asst Comm Soffian Santong that as of April 1 this year, Island Glades had registered a zero crime rate.
“The challenge is much greater to maintain the zero crime index. To feel safe is important, so it is our responsibility to work together with the police,” Chow added.
Syerleena, in her speech, said that neighbourhood safety has been her concern since she became Seri Delima’s representative in May 2018.
She said she had placed seven signboards (with police contact numbers for the public to call in case of emergency) in housing estates in Seri Delima.
“Island Glades has a number of senior citizens and retirees. My office always sends people to patrol the area to ensure there are no untoward incidents.
“Previously, this was a ‘red’ area, but with the cooperation from the Jelutong police station, the MPKK and the residents, there is a vast difference here now.
Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh commended the police for taking care of the peace in the area, even though they are overworked as the current police to population ratio in Seri Delima is 1:2,000.
Soffian praised the initiative taken by Syerleena and Island Glades MPKK for ensuring the safety of the local community.
He said that in line with the 215th Police Day celebrations, themed ‘Polis dan Masyarakat Berpisah Tiada’ (Police and Society are Inseparable), the Neighbourhood Watch programme would further strengthen the cooperation between the police and the local community.
“I would like to share that the crime index per 100,000 population in Penang has shown a decrease of 40% compared to last year.
“And the police will always be committed to ensuring the crime rate in Penang continues to be reduced,” he said.
Before the conclusion of the ceremony, Chow presented a letter of appreciation from the police to R. Vickneson for working closely with the police and his contribution to the local community in Seri Delima.
Also present were Island Glades MPKK chairman Teh Liang Teik, Bukit Gelugor penghulu Nasrizal Nasib and MBPP councillor Quah Boon Lim.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix and video by Darwina Mohd Daud