PENANG has recorded a 33% drop in the overall crime rate between March 18 and Sept 18 this year, as compared to the same period last year.
However, there was an increase in commercial and cybercrime cases in Penang.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow was told that commercial and cybercrime cases had risen by 50.7% or 384 cases, as compared to last year.
“Most cases involved online face mask trading, especially in the early stages of the movement control order (MCO).
“I have been told that serious measures are being taken to increase public awareness, as well as to increase cooperation with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to arrest the suspects and increase the charge rate,” he said in his speech during the ‘Policing Strategies during Covid-19 pandemic: The Success Story of Police and Related Law Enforcement Agencies in Penang State’ townhall session at Eastern & Oriental Hotel today.
Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) senior vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye expressed his concern about the increase in cybercrime cases.
“It is worrying because there are perpetrators who are willing to take advantage to cheat their victims during the MCO.
“Cybercrime cases in Malaysia increased by almost 80% from March to June this year, as compared to the same period last year. We have written to the Federal Government to propose the formation of a holistic committee to address the matter,” Lee said.
Chow thanked and praised the men-in-blue for discharging their duties efficiently.
The townhall session was held to understand the impact and effectiveness of the Health and Policing Strategies, to understand the integrity issues faced by police and related Law Enforcement Agencies and to understand the issues and challenges faced by the local community during Covid-19 pandemic.
Chow also congratulated the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) Penang Chapter committee, the townhall meeting committee and all those who made the meeting session possible.
“We have to work together to win the Covid-19 battle,” he said.
Also present were state police chief Datuk Sahabudin Abd Manan, MCPF Penang chairman Datuk Seri Syed Jaafar Syed Ali, state Health Department director Dr Asmayani Khalib, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) criminologist Datuk Dr P. Sundramoorthy and MCPF Penang Townhall Session organising chairman M. Kaleessvaran Manikam.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Alissala Thian
Video by Chan Kok Kuan