VETERAN journalist and blogger Datuk A. Kadir Jasin has cast doubt about how Malaysia’s 10th spot in the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2024 does not ‘tally’ with Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Razarudin Husain’s revelation of an average of five murder cases occurring in the country every week between 2021 and 2023.
He nevertheless reckoned that the answer to the question of whether Malaysia is really safe and secure is contained in a statement by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
Saifuddin has reportedly said that Malaysia’s rating rose due to factors such as the war in Ukraine and Gaza as well as escalating violent crime in North America.
“It means more or less that we rose because others fell,” Kadir penned in his latest Facebook post. “Are we safe when our police station was attacked and our cops were gunned down?”
“Are we safe when six-year-old autistic child Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiinm who was reported missing on Dec 5 last year was found dead the next day under suspicious circumstances? On June 12, his parents were charged in court with neglecting his care.”
For the uninitiated, Malaysia climbed nine spots from last year (2023) to enter the top 10 position for the first time. When the Peace Index was launched in 2008, Malaysia stood at the 32nd position.
Illustrating his concerns further, the national journalism laureate is also wary of public safety when three professional football players were splashed with acid two days apart from one another last month.
“The element of organised crime in the incidents are very clear. But until today nobody has been charged,” observed Kadir.
“Two people suspected in the case of the attack on Faisal Halim were detained, investigated and released without any charges. What is more surprising, the PDRM (Royal Malaysia Police) itself is reported to have admitted that it has not yet been able to identify the motive for the attack.”
As such, Kadir’s verdict is that Malaysia is seemingly “not as safe as depicted in the GPI report”.
“Everyone is not safe except those who commit crimes. Criminals are safe if they are not caught or after being caught, they are not brought to court. Even if prima facie has been established, the offender can be a freeman with the DNAA (discharged not amounting to acquittal) award.”
He added: “Not only the public is not safe but even money in the bank is not safe. Tens of millions of ringgit of fixed deposits in a bank were stolen. We’re not talking about those who get scammed because of their sheer stupidity or greed but money kept in the bank.
“On June 21, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) had instructed the bank involved in the fraudulent withdrawals to refund all affected account holders. If money in the bank is not safe, what more money kept under the pillow.” – Focus Malaysia
