It saddens me when I read that my hometown, JB, has the second highest crime rate in the country. The highest being Selangor, which happens to be my "other hometown". A few days ago, my friend became a victim of snatch-theft. Fortunately she just lost her bag. At least her life wasn't snatched as well. This event got me thinking; I don't want this to happen to anyone.
It's not that the government isn't paying attention to this disturbing development, but the response is a bit too lame. For instance, they buffed up the number of policemen in JB (specifically in the soon-to-be Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandar), and rented some shop lots to be turned into Police Stations. But why in those areas only? We are dealing with humans, who are gifted with intellect (and unfortunately being used for evil). Buff up one place, they'll just go to another place. What we need is a more drastic measure. For now I will suggest 3: harsher punishment for crime, empowerment of citizen action, and last but not least a new definition and treatment in jails.
In Malaysia, most crimes are punishable by jail-term and/or fine. This leaves a perception that in the worst-case scenario, you'll be spending a few years in jail and pay a sum of money for the crime you committed. For me, this kind of punishment is too light and lenient. Especially the jail-term. Prisoners are being fed and accommodated using taxpayers' money, which makes no sense. These prisoners are the same people, who had killed, robbed, raped, and terrorize our loved ones, yet we are the one who feed them during their time in the prison. Therefore a different punishment has to be enacted. The new "reward" for crime has to be more severe. Even if it's only a minor crime. This will discourage people from resorting to crime and violence, though perhaps we will be subjected to various criticisms. Who would dare to become a snatch-thief if the punishment for it is public caning by 12 canes?
We could also recruit some civilians to become vigilantes, someone who takes the enforcement of law or moral code into his or her own hands. We don't need the government to actually recruit them, since I myself lack the confidence in the government's capability to actually recruit the right people for this purpose. And with the speculation that our IGP is working in tandem with a crime syndicate makes working with the police a questionable option. There are a few vigilante groups that we could learn from; Guardian Angels, Ranch Rescue, and Sombra Negra.
As I mentioned before, it is unimaginable that us taxpayers are feeding the prisoners with our tax money. I mean, how would you feel if your daughter was raped, and the rapist was sent to jail, eating 3-5 meals a day, paid by your money? I don't have a daughter, but I don't like that idea. My suggestion is that the prisoners have to pay for the cost incurred during their stay in the jail. They have to work for it. They can choose from hard labor, to handcrafts. As long as they work. Exception given to prisoners who are terminally ill. by having them working (especially in hard labor), we could increase the national productivity level, not to mention that the prison is a large pool of unskilled labor market. Later on, upon their release, they don't have to worry about a job; they have plenty of experience and skills acquired during their stay in the jail. And since they have to work for their accommodation and food, there's a lot of tax money saved that can be used for other beneficial purposes, such as education and defense.
So let's give this a shot and see whether we manage to reduce the crime rate in JB. With harsher punishments, constant watch by vigilante groups, and a different treatment in the jail, perhaps JB will no longer be the second most dangerous city to live in Malaysia.
1 comment:
Hi Rad. Good idea on making the convicts pay their way through prison. Too bad they don't appear to have those metal shops here like they do in US prisons ... well, if they did then our cons would probably make parangs and the "underground channel" would see those things safely transported to the outside where other soon-to-be-cons would use them to commit more crimes.
The most difficult thing to swallow is that these thieves, rapists and violent types can get out of jail so soon while they still have plenty of strength and energy left to perpetrate more crimes.
Some poor guy who steals a pair of jeans off a clothesline so his kids can eat probably gets the same treatment and jail time as a jackass who beats the crap out of someone and steals his jeans.
Guess the authorities really need to re-examine their priorities on the war on crime. We have too many half-measures and unmotivated "defenders" out there to show the crooks that the cops and Govt really mean business.
In the meantime, let's continue to throw ideas and critiques at the authorities until they do something that convinces us as well as the criminals. All the best!
Post a Comment