CRIME continues to be the second biggest issue of concern to Malaysians other than the country’s economic situation, Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said.

“Crime prevention is a collective responsibility and it is important to know how to mobilise the entire Malaysian community to fight crime,” Lee said during the official launch of the “Stay Safe with Yeo’s” campaign in 1-Utama shopping centre recently.

The campaign was mooted by food and beverage company Yeo Hiap Seng (Yeo’s) Berhad to encourage the public to join Rakan Cop and reporting crime via Rakan Cop’s 13 designated hotline numbers.

“Yeo’s has printed their drinks packages with useful tips to safeguard oneself against crime and important numbers to call to. This itself is a proactive move in helping to disseminate information to the public,” Lee said.

The campaign is a three-day programme conducted jointly with the Malaysian Royal Police Force, MCPF, and American International Assurance (AIA), with activities to educate the public on crime prevention and safety that ended last Sunday.

Yeo’s chief executive officer and managing director Owen Ow said the company wanted to share some of its values related to consumers through this campaign.

“With the message, hopefully it would encourage people to register as a Rakan Cop.

Upon successful registration, the first 10,000 members will be entitled to free AIA personal accident permanent total disability insurance,” Ow said.

Ow added that there would never be enough policemen to look into every corner so crime prevention could start from our own doorstep.

Also present at the launch was Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Arjunaidi Mohamed.

Arjunaidi said the police force in Petaling Jaya were trying their best to make their presence visible.

“We have increased patrol rounds especially in areas known for break-ins and thefts like Damansara and Sungai Buloh,” he said, adding that the current ratio of police to population in Petaling Jaya was 1:1000, which is off the ideal mark of 1:250.

Lee said economic uncertaintines were bound to lead to a rise in crime rate, and therefore, the government not only has to fight crime but also handle issues like unemployment.

“People have to adopt an anti-crime culture and that we can never take our safety for granted. When this is drilled into our minds, then we’ll automatically be more aware and conscious.”

He said the MCPF also engages local authorities as they too have a role to play in crime prevention, citing that complaints related to street lights in parks or dark alleys, or enhancing safety of passages and pedestrian bridges must be duly attended to.