Thursday December 11, 2008

Residents fete the cops

THE USJ Residents Association (USJRA) once again showed its appreciation to the police with a high tea gathering at the 3K Complex hall in Subang Jaya.

About 100 guests attended the event, themed Deeparayamas Open House cum Jasamu Dikenang get-together.

Mingling: Cheah (right) and Robert Chan (left) speaking to Chief Inspector Foo Teik Foong (second from left) from USJ 8 police station during the gathering.

The annual event is traditionally hosted as a buka puasa dinner for the police personnel of the USJ 8 police station.

However, this year, the RA invited police personnel from all five police stations in the Subang Jaya/USJ constituency — namely the USJ 8, Taipan police station, the Subang Jaya police station, the Putra Heights police station and also the Bandar Sunway police station.

USJRA honorary secretary Eileen Cheah said the association wanted to show its gratitude to the police who had been cooperating with the residents on major crime prevention campaigns like the festive Balik Kampung-Rumah Selamat programme.

“Also, for the first time ever, we wanted to show our appreciation to the Subang Jaya fire and rescue department.

“They have been steadfastly providing services to our community but we have never really acknowledged their contributions.

“Therefore, it’s only right that we do something for them too,” Cheah said.

Guests-of-honour were Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh, Subang Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Zainal Rashid Abu Bakar, and Subang Jaya balai bomba deputy chief Mohd Alwi Mohd Dali.

Also present were USJ 8 station office-in-charge Chief Inspector Foo Teik Foong, Putra Heights office-in-charge Nordin Mustaffa, Subang Jaya district head police volunteer Inspector Cheng Kok Leong, Subang Jaya municipal councillor Ken Chia, and also neighbourhood watch representatives.

Zainal Rashid stressed on the community policing programme, a joint effort between the community and the police.

“Our objective is to look into more effective ways to solve crime and to foster a closer rapport with residents,” he said.

He added that eight community policing committees had also been formed about two months ago.

The members of the committees are community leaders in the areas concerned.

“These eight committees are headed by the officer-in-charge (OCS) from each of the eight police stations. The OCS will call for a meeting every month with its members,” Zainal Rashid said.

He added that with this concept, residents would find it easier to bring up their cases or reports with their community representatives and the OCS.

Following the buffet high-tea, a karaoke singing contest was held for the cops and fire services personnel.

Winners received shopping vouchers courtesy of the RA.

Yeoh also contributed RM5,000 towards USJRA to host the event. Both Zainal Rashid and Yeoh also took to the stage to sing a duet.