Saturday August 18, 2012
Group conducts neighbourhood watch to safeguard empty houses during Raya
By M. KUMAR
kumar@thestar.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR: Technician Eng Chee Wai will not be sleeping for the few nights of Hari Raya.
Instead, he will patrol the streets around his neighbourhood to watch out for robbers and thieves.
Eng, 44, is part of the Selangor Community Policing Association, which will conduct patrols every night for 10 days to safeguard their neighbours' empty houses during the Hari Raya season.
The group, which patrols twice a week at various residential areas throughout Selangor, have pledged to patrol from Wednesday to Aug 25.
The Star caught up with a group of them during their patrol at Taman Wangsa Permai on Wednesday.
The group of about 30 people met in front of the Desa Jaya police station at 8pm before conducting the patrols.
Eng said he felt it was his duty to look after his neighbourhood and his neighbours' houses while they were away.
“We have to help each other. That is the only way for us to stay safe and secure,” he said.
Eng said the area had seen its share of crime before he joined the association about three months ago.
“Since then, there has been a significant reduction in criminal activities here,” he said, adding that he knew his Muslim neighbours would help look after his home when he was away during Chinese New Year.
As the members divided themselves into groups of five to six people and patrolled on foot and on motorcycles, the mood was light and everyone was joking and laughing but all of them understood the importance of their task.
Another community policing member, Ronnie Chin Peng Seng, 46, said the group foiled a robbery bid a week ago.
Mohd Radzi Nata, 27, who has been involved in community policing for over a year, was also present.
“I have to do my part too. Since I will not be going back to my hometown for Hari Raya, I want to help out,” he said.
After hours of patrolling the residential areas, the group decided to call it a night at around 2am.
Association founder Kuan Chee Heng said the public needed to play an active role in fighting crime.
“We cannot leave it up to the police alone as our homes are our responsibility too,” he said.
- Sabah state assembly: Sulu incursion nothing to do with sultanate claim, says Musa
- 2014 Budget to be tabled on Oct 25
- Temporary freeze on cyber cafe licences for KL and Labuan
- Penang freak storm: Menara Umno owner given 7 days to submit safety report
- Penang freak storm: Cops get CCTV footage of Jln Macalister in probe to see how Lim Chin Aik died
- Penang: Telok Air Tawar rep Jahara Hamid elected new opposition leader
- Haze: Unhealthy air quality in Pasir Gudang, Larkin Lama, Kota Tinggi, Kemaman
- 15-year-old arrested after ordering five air rifles with brass bullets online
- Zahid: Government to review guidelines for hiring foreign workers to curb abuse, improve work conditions
- PM to head new fiscal policy committee to reduce deficit, increase growth
- Penang freak storm: Architect: force that hit Lim’s car would crush anything
- Penang freak storm: Inquest to be held to certify death of missing hawker
- Penang freak storm: ‘I saw his spirit, he was crying’
- Penang freak storm: Search called off for sake of heritage buildings
- Penang freak storm: Family grieves as search gets called off
- Malaysia's BiotechCorp raises profile at Montreal World Congress
- 1Malaysia Development Bhd to raise US$1b from floating power assets
- Securities Commission to host PRS exhibition on June 29
- Maybank, Tenaga lift KLCI out of the red (Update)
- Mudajaya scouts for regional power plants to boost recurring income
- Astro launches 11 new channels, 5 new packages
- Glove makers buck cautious market
- Fitters advances on venture into renewable energy sector
- AmResearch maintains "Buy" on Sarawak Cable Bhd
- Spain's high-speed trains and abandoned stations
- Affin Research maintains "Buy" call on DiGi, target price RM5.39
- Aeon Credit surges after strong earnings growth
- Google settlement clears way for new Class C stock
- Malaysia's KLCI open down, plantations and banks weigh
- Public Invest Research upgrades Petra Energy to Outperform
- Brutal golf course dooms US Open hopefuls in final round
- Queen’s title will boost Wimbledon bid, says Andy Murray
- Chong Wei misses the days top players bring out the best in him
- Results worldwide
- Malaysia target 30 golds at ASG
- World No. 1 hopes Daren and Wei Feng will step up their game
- Kisona stays focused ahead of Asian Junior Championships
- Spurs on brink of another NBA title
- Clarke: Hard for Warner to retain Test spot
- Costa retains Tour of Switzerland crown
- Justin Rose out-duels Mickelson to capture US Open title
- McIlroy loses his cool and takes it out on club
- Aussie confident his Day will come at a Major
- Mickelson suffers most agonising Open near-miss
- The long wait for 15th Major continues for world No. 1 Woods
- Penang freak storm: Architect: force that hit Lim’s car would crush anything
- Penang freak storm: ‘I saw his spirit, he was crying’
- Penang freak storm: Family grieves as search gets called off
- EPF plans ruling for new contributors
- Penang freak storm: Inquest to be held to certify death of missing hawker
- ‘Arigato’ for Japan’s decision on visas
- Penang freak storm: Search called off for sake of heritage buildings
- Meth head snatch thief in the bag
- Woman slashed by rival meat seller
- Sole survivor of fatal accident discharged from hospital
- ‘Arigato’ for Japan’s decision on visas
- Penang freak storm: ‘I saw his spirit, he was crying’
- EPF plans ruling for new contributors
- Penang freak storm: Architect: force that hit Lim’s car would crush anything
- 15-year-old arrested after ordering five air rifles with brass bullets online
- Blue form route to AirAsia X IPO
- Zahid: Government to review guidelines for hiring foreign workers to curb abuse, improve work conditions
- Astro launches 11 new channels, 5 new packages
- Hartalega to emerge as industry game-changer
- Address food hygiene issue seriously, says Chua
RSS
