KUCHING: Batu Kitang assemblyman Datuk Lo Khere Chiang has sounded the alarm on escalating crime rates in his constituency, urging the federal government to bolster security measures, particularly in areas like Lee Ling Heights and Jalan Chong Foh Hin.
Speaking during a press conference at Lee Ling Heights, he highlighted multiple incidents of break-ins, some involving residents being tied up and robbed.
“Residents here live in fear, one family has suffered three break-ins in 2009, 2014 and, the latest attempt, in 2023. Other neighbours have also experienced similar incidents, sometimes even in broad daylight.”
Lo attributed the crime surge to inadequate security infrastructure, stressing the lack of police patrols, insufficient personnel and the absence of high-resolution CCTVs.
He called on the federal government to allocate more resources, including patrol vehicles and advanced surveillance systems, to assist the Padawan police force in covering vast areas effectively.
“Security is under federal jurisdiction. If it were under Sarawak’s control, I am confident Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg would have addressed it swiftly.”
He pointed out that the federal government collects significant revenue from Sarawak’s resources but fails to reinvest adequately in public safety.
Lo commended the residents of Lee Ling Heights for forming a neighbourhood crime watch group via WhatsApp, which has helped deter some criminal attempts.
He encouraged other communities to follow suit, advising them to alert neighbours and create noise during suspicious activities to scare off perpetrators.
He also urged Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen to raise the matter in Parliament, stressing the urgency of federal intervention.
“We need high-resolution CCTVs linked to a central system, more patrol vehicles, and additional manpower for effective crime prevention,” Lo added.
