KUCHING: Sarawak has all the ingredients to be a successful halal industry hub in the region, said Chief Minister Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud.
He said the State Government had identified specific areas such as Tanjung Manis, Km15 Jalan Samarahan/Siburan, Highland Agropol in the Bario Highlands and Demak Laut Industrial Estate, where the industry could be concentrated.
“Through the various initiatives taken by the Government to develop the halal industry in Sarawak, and with the help and assistance of various government agencies such as the Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) itself, there is no reason why Sarawak cannot be a halal industry hub in the region,” he said in his speech when launching the Halal Industry Development Seminar held at a leading hotel here yesterday.
He added that the missing links were the involvement and commitment of the various ministries and agencies, as well as the cooperation of the entrepeneurs as a whole.
“We have all the ingredients to be successful in the halal industry, as we have the land, resources and conducive climate for its implementation,” he said.
His text of speech was read by State Housing Minister, Dato Sri Abang Haji Johari Tun Openg.
Taib, who is also the Minister of Planning and Resource Management, added that the State would develop the industry under the proposed Halal Park which would become the catalyst for the development and growth of the agricultural sector.
“The halal industry will open up a new chapter for the economic development in Sarawak to further elevate the socio-economic status of our people,” he said.
However, the Chief Minister cautioned that in order to succeed and compete with other emerging halal producers and providers such as Thailand, Indonesia, China and Australia, Sarawak would have to upgrade its qualities on research and development (R & D), human resource development, product development, clinical utilities and testing, packaging, branding and marketting.
“We have to create awareness and acceptability of halal products and services, not just among the Muslims but non-Muslims, too” he said.
He said Sarawak would focus on halal products and services such as logistics, tourism, daily produce and health care products.
“We can succeed in this industry as our halal certificates issued by the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (JAKIM) and the Sarawak Islamic Department (JAIS) are being increasingly recognised by all the Islamic countries,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of HDC, Dato’ Jamil bin Bidin, said Malaysia should compete for the halal industry in view of its huge potential.
He urged those interested in the industry to take all the neccesary steps and process to comptete with other countries in the world.
“HDC’s target is to increase our share of the global halal market from the present 5.8% to 8.7% by 2020,” he said.
Jamil said HDC was established on September 18, 2006, to promote Malaysia to be among the top global halal producers.
He said HDC’s action plan from 2008-2010 was to attract investors in the development of the small and medium industries in the country.
“We hope to cooperate further with Sarawak with the launching of Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) soon,” he added.
Among those present were Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Haji Daud Abdul Rahman, Assistant Minister Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Entrepreneur’s Development) and HDC Chairman Tan Sri Dr Syed Jalaludin Syed Salim and the Director of the State Planning Unit, Ismawi Ismuni.
Bario eh??
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
BOSS IDENTIFIES MISSING INGREDIENT
Jimmy Rice 29 January 2008
Rafa Benitez believes restoring confidence among his players will be the key to getting this season's Premier League campaign back on track.
Liverpool led the table in September after a flying start to the season but now stand in sixth position after an indifferent beginning to 2008.
Benitez identifies performances against the likes of Besiktas, Derby and Marseille as proof of the quality in his squad. Instead he points to one missing ingredient.
"It's a question of confidence now," he said ahead of Wednesday's trip to Upton Park. "We are in a good position in terms of the quality we have. We need to find the confidence we had when we had people scoring goals and winning games.
"You could see we were playing really well at the beginning of the season, and also against teams like Porto, Besiktas and Marseille – some important games.
"We are not very happy because we have drawn so many games that we maybe deserved to win. The difference could have been six or eight points with one game in hand – we could have been really close."
Benitez admits that after four consecutive draws in the league, Liverpool are now entering a pivotal point in their campaign.
He explained: "We have West Ham and then Sunderland, then Chelsea and Inter soon after that. Also the FA Cup. We know it is a crucial period just like we say about Christmas time. We will try to keep the players ready.
"It's true there have been too many things happening in the last few months. Now the players are just thinking about football. We are still in the Champions League and progressing in the FA Cup – they know our responsibility is to do our best in every game."
Benitez believes the experience within his squad will see the Reds secure fourth spot from the likes of Man City, Everton and Aston Villa sooner rather than later.
"Now we just have to keep going and finish as high as possible. We must think about three points from every game," he said.
"If we can get into fourth spot soon, then we can see if we can get to third position.
"We think we can do it. We have one game in hand and I think we have enough quality. We also have experience of playing at this level. In these terms we have a very good, top side."
Meanwhile, much has been made of Benitez's half-time team talk on Saturday after going in at the break against Havant and Waterlooville with the scores 2-2.
The Spaniard said: "I don't like to talk too much about these things but we understood that we needed to improve and it's as simple as that.
"The players know, because they have experience, that we need to improve. But the game is 90 minutes and sometimes people forget that. So, at the end of the game to have scored five goals is positive."
What took you so long???
400 cubic metres of solid waste collected per day
By Gerald Chung, 29/1/2008
KUCHING: The 25km stretch of Sarawak River maintained by the Kuching City North Hall (DBKU) collects an average of around 400 cubic metres of solid waste per day from the eight traps set along the river.
Last year, over 41, 700 cubic metres of solid waste were collected from the river, despite facing an increased act of vandalism and theft regarding the traps.
This was disclosed by Environment Health Officer Basheer Ahmad, who is in charge of DBKU Drainage and Green Areas Management at a press conference here yesterday.
Basheer said that most of the solid waste collected by the traps comprised 95 percent vegetation while the remaining were domestic waste from residents along the Sarawak River.
“The Drainage and Green Areas Management spend around RM500, 000 on the river cleaning effort especially in maintaining the cleanliness of the river to avoid solid waste from floating down river, especially to the areas along the Waterfront.
“Hence, contractors and workers from the council ply through the river to ensure that solid waste does not pass through the trap,” he said.
He said that the Sarawak River, from the upper reach until the lower reach, was around 112km and passed through the areas of the Padawan Municipal Council (PMC), DBKU and the Kuching City South Council (MBKS).
“The main area concerned is the 25km stretch maintained by DBKU with every effort made to ensure solid waste does not float down river.”
Basheer said the traps, which were built at a cost of RM2,000, were set mostly at the upper reach of the river.
The sites where traps are in place to catch the floating solid waste are along Kudei, Gita Laut, Sungai Maong, Maong and Paroh.
The solid waste collected from the river is then dumped at a waste collection dumping ground located at Maong.
“The trap at the upper reach of the river will catch all vegetation and domestic waste and prevent it from flowing down river.
The final safety net will be the traps set along the areas near Satok and Sungai Bintangor,” he said, adding that maintainance of the traps required a lot of hard effort because, of late, they were the target of theft and vandalism.
He said there had been cases where the traps laid along the river were cut and the steel cables stolen, which hindered the cleaning effort carried out by the council. “The valuable part of the traps are the steel cables which help trap floating solid waste.”
I remembered during the regatta a few years back, this DBKU guy was picking up rubbish from the river at the pontoon in Kuching Waterfront, the moment he turn back on his route, the place was full of water bottles and rubbish again. Just the mentality of the locals....cis...cis...
KUCHING: The 25km stretch of Sarawak River maintained by the Kuching City North Hall (DBKU) collects an average of around 400 cubic metres of solid waste per day from the eight traps set along the river.
Last year, over 41, 700 cubic metres of solid waste were collected from the river, despite facing an increased act of vandalism and theft regarding the traps.
This was disclosed by Environment Health Officer Basheer Ahmad, who is in charge of DBKU Drainage and Green Areas Management at a press conference here yesterday.
Basheer said that most of the solid waste collected by the traps comprised 95 percent vegetation while the remaining were domestic waste from residents along the Sarawak River.
“The Drainage and Green Areas Management spend around RM500, 000 on the river cleaning effort especially in maintaining the cleanliness of the river to avoid solid waste from floating down river, especially to the areas along the Waterfront.
“Hence, contractors and workers from the council ply through the river to ensure that solid waste does not pass through the trap,” he said.
He said that the Sarawak River, from the upper reach until the lower reach, was around 112km and passed through the areas of the Padawan Municipal Council (PMC), DBKU and the Kuching City South Council (MBKS).
“The main area concerned is the 25km stretch maintained by DBKU with every effort made to ensure solid waste does not float down river.”
Basheer said the traps, which were built at a cost of RM2,000, were set mostly at the upper reach of the river.
The sites where traps are in place to catch the floating solid waste are along Kudei, Gita Laut, Sungai Maong, Maong and Paroh.
The solid waste collected from the river is then dumped at a waste collection dumping ground located at Maong.
“The trap at the upper reach of the river will catch all vegetation and domestic waste and prevent it from flowing down river.
The final safety net will be the traps set along the areas near Satok and Sungai Bintangor,” he said, adding that maintainance of the traps required a lot of hard effort because, of late, they were the target of theft and vandalism.
He said there had been cases where the traps laid along the river were cut and the steel cables stolen, which hindered the cleaning effort carried out by the council. “The valuable part of the traps are the steel cables which help trap floating solid waste.”
I remembered during the regatta a few years back, this DBKU guy was picking up rubbish from the river at the pontoon in Kuching Waterfront, the moment he turn back on his route, the place was full of water bottles and rubbish again. Just the mentality of the locals....cis...cis...
Friday, January 25, 2008
Kuching, Kuching
Last night. me and my missus went shopping at Tesco kajang, semalam kan pay day...
she was complaining about the prices and comparing the prices back in Kuching.
Well, even if you have more choices here, the prices of vegies and food stuff are quite high even though you can get some offers here and there.
even the waffle here , kedekut nak mampus with the butter and peanut butter...
kalau di kuching according to my wife, banyak dia letak , the workers here semua muka masam punya... well life here is not rosy as it looks. Here we have to work hard and be extra carefull, here in Kuching, it might be not as safe as we think...
she was complaining about the prices and comparing the prices back in Kuching.
Well, even if you have more choices here, the prices of vegies and food stuff are quite high even though you can get some offers here and there.
even the waffle here , kedekut nak mampus with the butter and peanut butter...
kalau di kuching according to my wife, banyak dia letak , the workers here semua muka masam punya... well life here is not rosy as it looks. Here we have to work hard and be extra carefull, here in Kuching, it might be not as safe as we think...
Cable Theft Suspect nabbed after car chase
By Roger Francis, ET,25/1/2008
KUCHING: A Mobile Patrol Vehicle (MPV) unit arrested a cable theft suspect while another managed to escape after their car rammed into a tree in Tabuan Jaya early yesterday morning.
The two suspects were seen cutting the cable at a private college in Matang at about 4.30am by members of the public who informed the police.
When the MPV unit arrived at the scene, the suspects jumped into their Proton Saga and sped away towards Tabuan Jaya.
A high speed pursuit ensued.
The pursuit ended when the suspects’ car suddenly went out of control and rammed into a tree at Tabuan Jaya.
One of suspects managed to escape while the another suspect, in his 30s, from, Sungai Periuk, was arrested.
The suspects’ car and the cable found in it were taken to the police station for detention
When i was staying in Rodway, those thieves stole the streetlights cable twice, but surprisely the cable would be just about 10 feet because they would climb near an abandoned quarters, still it causes inconvience because of the darkness at night and drivers are caught by surprise and blindness for about 50 metres. The Sesco Contractor would came and say kalau lain kali ada tengok orang panjat panggil sesco atau polis, kalau sesco sendiri, panggil juga, ada oraang kuat tipu punya...
How would we know if those people want to steal, we are not at home for 24 hours, but i really respect those contractor/his workers if they are on duty from night to dawn after a bad thunderstorm, they had to do repairs from santubong to 9 mile,
KUCHING: A Mobile Patrol Vehicle (MPV) unit arrested a cable theft suspect while another managed to escape after their car rammed into a tree in Tabuan Jaya early yesterday morning.
The two suspects were seen cutting the cable at a private college in Matang at about 4.30am by members of the public who informed the police.
When the MPV unit arrived at the scene, the suspects jumped into their Proton Saga and sped away towards Tabuan Jaya.
A high speed pursuit ensued.
The pursuit ended when the suspects’ car suddenly went out of control and rammed into a tree at Tabuan Jaya.
One of suspects managed to escape while the another suspect, in his 30s, from, Sungai Periuk, was arrested.
The suspects’ car and the cable found in it were taken to the police station for detention
When i was staying in Rodway, those thieves stole the streetlights cable twice, but surprisely the cable would be just about 10 feet because they would climb near an abandoned quarters, still it causes inconvience because of the darkness at night and drivers are caught by surprise and blindness for about 50 metres. The Sesco Contractor would came and say kalau lain kali ada tengok orang panjat panggil sesco atau polis, kalau sesco sendiri, panggil juga, ada oraang kuat tipu punya...
How would we know if those people want to steal, we are not at home for 24 hours, but i really respect those contractor/his workers if they are on duty from night to dawn after a bad thunderstorm, they had to do repairs from santubong to 9 mile,
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Bobby
When i first met the dog, he was very fierce.
My aunty left him/it under the ponch. He was a big eater. Have to buy 20kg of corn for him/it. Then i got the office amah to collect leftovers of our meeting to bring back to him/it.
He was called puppy then he got bigger and bigger. So my aunty said, he is not a puppy any more, so we called him "bobby".
When he got sick, his medical bills were almost as high as a normal patient going for treatment, my main worry that time was he would bit the vet.
We used to let him go and run around but then one day, he came back with a broken foot, some one hit and broke his foot. Since then, we never let him go without a lease...
Will continue...
Never knew i would miss a dog like that...
Use to have them in a pot...nyamai..
My aunty left him/it under the ponch. He was a big eater. Have to buy 20kg of corn for him/it. Then i got the office amah to collect leftovers of our meeting to bring back to him/it.
He was called puppy then he got bigger and bigger. So my aunty said, he is not a puppy any more, so we called him "bobby".
When he got sick, his medical bills were almost as high as a normal patient going for treatment, my main worry that time was he would bit the vet.
We used to let him go and run around but then one day, he came back with a broken foot, some one hit and broke his foot. Since then, we never let him go without a lease...
Will continue...
Never knew i would miss a dog like that...
Use to have them in a pot...nyamai..
Dog, A Man's best friend
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 4 (Bernama) -- Do you know that it was a dog that led the police to seize 20 packages of heroin during a raid at a temporary longhouse in Wardieburn, Jalan Genting in Setapak in October last year?
Another police dog by the name of "Panza" had sniffed out the most wanted suspect in Sarawak who was hiding in some thick bushes in Kuching after committing a double murder?
These are among the many real life dramas of successful police work in the country, where the law keepers work side-by-by with man's best friend, which is usually seen as a family pet.
For this reason, the Crime Investigation Department of the Royal Malaysian Police is expanding its Dog Unit dubbed as "K9-JSJ Unit" and is keeping abreast with changing time.
K9-JSJ Operation and Training Officer ASP V. Vignesvaran said the Sept 11 carnage had underscored the importance of crime investigation using the canine.
"Its ability in detecting and other anti-crime work had increased the demand for such dogs," he said, adding that the unit is sourcing for another 30 dogs to beef up its current strength of 126 in the country.
INVESTIGATION AND ANTI-CRIME EFFORT
The unit was previously known as Dog Detection Unit, set up in 1968 under the Technical support unit of the Crime Investigation Department, with the main aim of assisting in investigation and anti-crime effort.
It started when a police officer with the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and six personnel were sent to the United Kingdom for training and returned with six dogs.
Later, series of training for dog handlers were carried out at the Police Training Centre at Semarak Road here, starting with 12-month old canines bought from the U.S. and United Kingdom.
The dog handlers, comprises either the new police recruits or the servicemen would have to undergo a "Kennel Man" course to get acquainted with their four-legged partners which would also be adapted with their supposed duties.
He said the purchase of the dog would undergo a stringent process to ensure that the animals drafted into the unit to be of quality and come from the best breed.
Among the preferred breed were German Shepherd, specially for anti-crime duty, Labrador, Border Collie, Springer Spaniel and Wermarinar, for detection of drugs and explosives, he said.
Dog handling is not easy as it seem, especially the German Shepherd which is known for its aggressive character or violent instinct.
'LOVE BITES'
Vignesvaran said it was common for the trainees to get bitten on their hands or even their thighs during their 16-week training.
"But that is just like 'love bites' or 'welcome greetings' from the animal," he quipped.
He said such 'hazards' would be healed by time once the dog got use to the smell of their handlers, making them good companions.
To dog handler Corporal R. Perumal, such confrontational encounter is nothing more than a "friend's bite."
Perumal, who so far handled three dogs during his 20-year tenure with the unit, had eventually established a bond of friendship that borders on human dimension.
When his dog Alrick, died a slow death in his arms after it was given a lethal injection by a veterinary doctor, due to eye disability, he found himself choked in emotion with tears almost rolling down his cheek.
The Dog Unit is divided into three main teams, each with separate functions -- the multi-purpose team for in anti-crime task, drug, and explosive and fire-arms detection teams.
The general purpose dogs are trained to be more aggressive to meet the tougher tasks of not just combating crimes like housebreaking, murder, anti-crime patrols but also to breakup unruly demonstrations.
The drug detection unit has the dogs in surveillance at the country's exit or entry points like airports, naval ports or other possible spots that could harbour the illegal activities.
Vignesvaran said the explosive and firearm unit was incorporated into the K9-JSJ Unit in 1998 when Malaysia was hosting the world's second largest sporting event, the Commonwealth Games.
ACCOLADE AND RECOGNITION
The Royal Malaysian Police's success in making the prestigious occasion incident-free, received accolade and recognition from the U.S. which donated 30 dogs to the unit.
Its other resounding achievement was a raid at a temporary homes of longhouses at Wardieburn, Jalan Genting, in Setapak here, October last year, when 20 packages of heroin in powder and solid form were hauled out from a suspect.
In another case, Panza, from the Dog Unit in Kuching, managed to lead the arrest of the most wanted suspect hiding behind thick bushes in an escape attempt after committing double murder.
Vignesvaran said like their human kin, dogs at time are also moody and refuse to perform their daily duties.
Their handlers would carry out checks and general cleaning every morning at the kennels of dogs under their supervision to ensure that they were in good health.
"They will check whether the dogs are fit to perform duties and if the animal are not in the mood, they will be kept away from work and ask to rest or play game as a mean to regain their spirit," he said.
He said the animals' fitness was being given proper attention at the unit with their health status being closely monitored regularly.
Dogs that were down with illness, would be taken to the Veterinary Hospital at Cheras here or University Putra Malaysia for further treatment.
He said the dogs would perform a very tight work regime and bound by strict working discipline.
Every morning they would undergo a rigid physical exercise while the dogs assigned for operational duties would be put on alert round the clock.
"The dogs on operational duties will not need undergo the heavy exercise but just light routine to avoid tiredness, by playing around with their handlers," he said.
Vignesvaran said the unit would organise a two-week refresher course at their contingent level and the Police Training Centre here once a year.
This is to keep both the handlers and their dogs up-to-date with the latest techniques in crime-busting and investigation effort.-- BERNAMA
Another police dog by the name of "Panza" had sniffed out the most wanted suspect in Sarawak who was hiding in some thick bushes in Kuching after committing a double murder?
These are among the many real life dramas of successful police work in the country, where the law keepers work side-by-by with man's best friend, which is usually seen as a family pet.
For this reason, the Crime Investigation Department of the Royal Malaysian Police is expanding its Dog Unit dubbed as "K9-JSJ Unit" and is keeping abreast with changing time.
K9-JSJ Operation and Training Officer ASP V. Vignesvaran said the Sept 11 carnage had underscored the importance of crime investigation using the canine.
"Its ability in detecting and other anti-crime work had increased the demand for such dogs," he said, adding that the unit is sourcing for another 30 dogs to beef up its current strength of 126 in the country.
INVESTIGATION AND ANTI-CRIME EFFORT
The unit was previously known as Dog Detection Unit, set up in 1968 under the Technical support unit of the Crime Investigation Department, with the main aim of assisting in investigation and anti-crime effort.
It started when a police officer with the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and six personnel were sent to the United Kingdom for training and returned with six dogs.
Later, series of training for dog handlers were carried out at the Police Training Centre at Semarak Road here, starting with 12-month old canines bought from the U.S. and United Kingdom.
The dog handlers, comprises either the new police recruits or the servicemen would have to undergo a "Kennel Man" course to get acquainted with their four-legged partners which would also be adapted with their supposed duties.
He said the purchase of the dog would undergo a stringent process to ensure that the animals drafted into the unit to be of quality and come from the best breed.
Among the preferred breed were German Shepherd, specially for anti-crime duty, Labrador, Border Collie, Springer Spaniel and Wermarinar, for detection of drugs and explosives, he said.
Dog handling is not easy as it seem, especially the German Shepherd which is known for its aggressive character or violent instinct.
'LOVE BITES'
Vignesvaran said it was common for the trainees to get bitten on their hands or even their thighs during their 16-week training.
"But that is just like 'love bites' or 'welcome greetings' from the animal," he quipped.
He said such 'hazards' would be healed by time once the dog got use to the smell of their handlers, making them good companions.
To dog handler Corporal R. Perumal, such confrontational encounter is nothing more than a "friend's bite."
Perumal, who so far handled three dogs during his 20-year tenure with the unit, had eventually established a bond of friendship that borders on human dimension.
When his dog Alrick, died a slow death in his arms after it was given a lethal injection by a veterinary doctor, due to eye disability, he found himself choked in emotion with tears almost rolling down his cheek.
The Dog Unit is divided into three main teams, each with separate functions -- the multi-purpose team for in anti-crime task, drug, and explosive and fire-arms detection teams.
The general purpose dogs are trained to be more aggressive to meet the tougher tasks of not just combating crimes like housebreaking, murder, anti-crime patrols but also to breakup unruly demonstrations.
The drug detection unit has the dogs in surveillance at the country's exit or entry points like airports, naval ports or other possible spots that could harbour the illegal activities.
Vignesvaran said the explosive and firearm unit was incorporated into the K9-JSJ Unit in 1998 when Malaysia was hosting the world's second largest sporting event, the Commonwealth Games.
ACCOLADE AND RECOGNITION
The Royal Malaysian Police's success in making the prestigious occasion incident-free, received accolade and recognition from the U.S. which donated 30 dogs to the unit.
Its other resounding achievement was a raid at a temporary homes of longhouses at Wardieburn, Jalan Genting, in Setapak here, October last year, when 20 packages of heroin in powder and solid form were hauled out from a suspect.
In another case, Panza, from the Dog Unit in Kuching, managed to lead the arrest of the most wanted suspect hiding behind thick bushes in an escape attempt after committing double murder.
Vignesvaran said like their human kin, dogs at time are also moody and refuse to perform their daily duties.
Their handlers would carry out checks and general cleaning every morning at the kennels of dogs under their supervision to ensure that they were in good health.
"They will check whether the dogs are fit to perform duties and if the animal are not in the mood, they will be kept away from work and ask to rest or play game as a mean to regain their spirit," he said.
He said the animals' fitness was being given proper attention at the unit with their health status being closely monitored regularly.
Dogs that were down with illness, would be taken to the Veterinary Hospital at Cheras here or University Putra Malaysia for further treatment.
He said the dogs would perform a very tight work regime and bound by strict working discipline.
Every morning they would undergo a rigid physical exercise while the dogs assigned for operational duties would be put on alert round the clock.
"The dogs on operational duties will not need undergo the heavy exercise but just light routine to avoid tiredness, by playing around with their handlers," he said.
Vignesvaran said the unit would organise a two-week refresher course at their contingent level and the Police Training Centre here once a year.
This is to keep both the handlers and their dogs up-to-date with the latest techniques in crime-busting and investigation effort.-- BERNAMA
House at Rodway
I used to stay at Kendal House, a government quarters at Rodway road.
Before i move in, i was always informed that the place is not safe. Break-in, clothes stolen and other stuff.
Well to counter that, i requested that JKR to install a metal shed for my car below the house. Come to think of it, anyone with a plyer or sheet cutter could still cut through the mesh... thankfully nothing happen..
Luckily my aunty gave me a mix-bred german sherpard dog, and he was God-send, really miss that bugger,
During that time, a assistant Minister's House was broken into (in Tabuan Area), not long after that my neighbour, also a YB, brought in three dogs to look after his house... before that he had guards looking after the house now the guards are looking after the dogs....LOL...
People used to drop by the road side and climb up the fruit trees around, or get some bamboo shoots, my father used to sapu these umbut, very sweet...
Desmond, ask Laga to go and collect these things also...
Wonder if he gets any sleep with the dogs barking next door?
Before i move in, i was always informed that the place is not safe. Break-in, clothes stolen and other stuff.
Well to counter that, i requested that JKR to install a metal shed for my car below the house. Come to think of it, anyone with a plyer or sheet cutter could still cut through the mesh... thankfully nothing happen..
Luckily my aunty gave me a mix-bred german sherpard dog, and he was God-send, really miss that bugger,
During that time, a assistant Minister's House was broken into (in Tabuan Area), not long after that my neighbour, also a YB, brought in three dogs to look after his house... before that he had guards looking after the house now the guards are looking after the dogs....LOL...
People used to drop by the road side and climb up the fruit trees around, or get some bamboo shoots, my father used to sapu these umbut, very sweet...
Desmond, ask Laga to go and collect these things also...
Wonder if he gets any sleep with the dogs barking next door?
Kena Pukau
This entry was posted on Sunday, December 16th, 2007 at 10:00 am and is filed under Sarawak News
They are organised and methodical. They fear no alarm or CCTV and observe a peculiar ritual of eating at their victims’ kitchen before making a getaway
THEIR strange behaviour has given rise to a number of conjectures.
Some dub them ‘the hungry gang’ for their peculiar ritual of eating whatever food they could find at their victims’ kitchen before making off with their loot. Some believe they are just a bunch of hungry drug addicts out to hunt for food but at the same time take the opportunity to rob their victims.
Others, however, suggest that they are nothing more than just robbers and forced to eat at their victims’ kitchen simply to observe some rituals in return for ‘protection’.
Whatever it may be, only one thing is certain: This particular gang has been terrorising residents in Kuching’s Matang and Batu Kawa residential areas in the last few months.
Their modus operandi, as discovered in at least six cases that were reported so far this year, is to break into a house in the wee hours of the morning or late at night, wake up the occupants and tie them up before ransacking the house for money and valuables. After all has been done and over with and prior to making their escape, they would without fail help themselves to whatever food they could find in the kitchen.
Police have yet to establish whether they were locals or foreigners but some of the victims strongly believe they are not locals.
They seem to have no fear for alarm systems, close circuit cameras and silent alarms or had any qualms about breaking into even an occupied house.
To give themselves more time to escape, they sometimes disabled the phones so that their victims could not call for help immediately after they freed themselves but paradoxically took their sweet time eating before making their getaway.
Their ritualistic sharing of a meal among themselves in the houses they robbed has given rise to a number of conjectures for their strange behavior, which must have delayed their escape unnecessarily.
Some people simply dismissed them as hungry robbers who had to eat something before fleeing. This was the same explanation given by the police during a press conference recently. They surmised that the robbers had to drive quite a distance to cross the border to Indonesia and could not take the risk of delaying their escape by stopping at coffee shops or stalls to eat and also be spotted by the public in doing so.
However, there is a general consensus that their insistence on eating something before leaving has to do with black magic and mysticism and that they were actually sharing the food with their guardian spirit as part of a bargain for protecting them from slipping up and from being captured.
A victim, who wished to remain anonymous, told thesundaypost that the police explanation that the gang’s eating habits was to allow them to escape across the border without stopping along the way for food was wrong and that a more sinister reason may be behind the gang’s need to fill their stomach after each robbery.
“I definitely believe these people practise some sort of ‘ilmu’ (mystical art) and they need to eat to satisfy whatever spirit that protects them.
“Otherwise, how do you explain their ability to commit so many robberies without getting caught?” said the wife of a doctor, whose family was robbed by the gang on Sept 26.
She went on to relate that on the night the incident took place, she began feeling very sleepy around 9pm, which was unusual for her as she never went to bed before midnight. And as the robbers burst through the master bedroom door, her husband seemed unable to react and just sat passively as the robbers tied them up.
Describing the robbers as ‘organised and methodical’, she said they seemed to know exactly what had to be done and were always in control throughout the entire incident.
Another woman, the wife of a CEO, whose family were the victims on Sept 13, said she believed that the gang members were high on drugs and therefore were hungry leading them to eat whatever food they could find in the house.
However, she admitted hearing stories of the use of ‘ilmu’ by house breaking gangs and said that it might explain the gang’s insatiable appetite.
“I was told by my friends that these people have their own pantang (rituals) to follow whenever they break into houses, so it is possible they need to eat simply to conform to their pantang,” she said.
Both women believed that the gang members were Indonesians as the bills of the hand phones taken by the robbers showed they called someone across the border immediately after escaping.
Showing thesundaypost her handset bill which showed calls being made with her stolen handset to a number in West Kalimantan Indonesia within hours after their house was robbed, the doctor’s wife said that it proved the perpetrators were Indonesains although they probably had local accomplices to help drive them around.
Both victims also said that they had taken extra measures to protect their homes, including installing alarms and additional security grills.
“We are constantly living in fear that the gang will strike back at us again,” said the doctor’s wife.
Are these robbers really the practitioners of ‘black magic’, who entered into a contract with evil to gain riches through their nefarious activities in return for their souls?
However, not all magic spells are cast to bring about harm or protect evil doers as there are also those who turn to the spiritual world for good purposes like healing the sick, help reform unfaithful spouses or rebellious children, and enhancing chances of landing a job.
These people are traditional faith healers locally known as bomoh or dukun. They could be men or women and are usually well respected and even feared in their communities.
They recite chants and prayers to cure illness or free victims of black magic from evil spells. A bomoh or dukun also may be consulted to explain dreams, provide magic charms or potions and even catch evil spirits to cast them away.
To find out more about mysticism and magic spells, thesundaypost talked to two local bomohs, Pak Min and Tok Wan (not real their name) for their views.
Both Pak Min and Tok Wan did not rule out the use of black magic in the case of the ‘hungry gang’, saying magic could be used for either good or evil.
Explaining why the robbers had to eat a meal before escaping, Pak Min believed it was not the robbers who ate the meal rather the ‘genie’ with whom they had entered into a covenant of evil.
“I believe these people use black magic. When they acquire the magic, they made a promise with the genie that they will feed the genie whenever his protection is needed.
“And that is why they must eat whatever food they can find at their victims’ house before they escape with their loots. Actually it was not them (robbers) who ate the food but the genie,” Pak Min opined.
Pak Min further explained that the genie acted as the gang’s guardian, who could have been assigned to them (the robbers) by their master and feeding the genie was part of the bargain in return for their protection.
“If they don’t do that (eat at their victim’s house), the genie will not protect them. If the genie does not guard them, they will be recognised and caught,” he said.
“The genie is with them during that time … ordinary people can’t see the genie but the gang members can. Yes, they eat the food together but actually it was the genie that eat, and they have to let people see their left over because that is also part of the agreement,” he added.
However, Pak Min believed the robbers would not kill their victims because if they do, not only will their magic spell be broken, they could be severely punished by the spirit for taking a life.
“In any magic, white or black, there are many taboos to observe. Those who break them will face grim consequences.
“In the case of the hungry robbers, I believe they are not allowed to kill the victims. They can tie the victims up or threatened them, but not to kill them,” he said.
Tok Wan said robbers could also use ‘pukau’, magic spells that render their victims helpless and too weak to move or cause them to fall into deep sleep while they ransack their houses.
“Although not many practise pukau in Sarawak, they could learn the spell in Indonesia where it is widely practised,” he said.
He did not rule out the use of pukau by the ‘hungry gang’ robbers as in most of the cases, the victims did not do anything but to follow their instructions.
Tok Wan also said partaking a meal at the scene of the crime was one of the rules that must be observed for those who practised pukau.
A day after the break-in of the house of Assistant Minister in CMD at Matang in Kuching on Sept 27, police arrested five people, including four Indonesians, whom they believed were the ‘hungry gang’ who were responsible for a recent spate of robberies.
The suspects have yet to be charged but it seems they are not the ‘hungry gang’ because three cases of robberies during which the robbers helped themselves to whatever food they could find in the house were reported last month.
Is there a new ‘hungry gang’ taking over those who are under police custody or are those sowing fear among house owners in Matang and Batu Kawa areas now part of the same gang still at large?
They are organised and methodical. They fear no alarm or CCTV and observe a peculiar ritual of eating at their victims’ kitchen before making a getaway
THEIR strange behaviour has given rise to a number of conjectures.
Some dub them ‘the hungry gang’ for their peculiar ritual of eating whatever food they could find at their victims’ kitchen before making off with their loot. Some believe they are just a bunch of hungry drug addicts out to hunt for food but at the same time take the opportunity to rob their victims.
Others, however, suggest that they are nothing more than just robbers and forced to eat at their victims’ kitchen simply to observe some rituals in return for ‘protection’.
Whatever it may be, only one thing is certain: This particular gang has been terrorising residents in Kuching’s Matang and Batu Kawa residential areas in the last few months.
Their modus operandi, as discovered in at least six cases that were reported so far this year, is to break into a house in the wee hours of the morning or late at night, wake up the occupants and tie them up before ransacking the house for money and valuables. After all has been done and over with and prior to making their escape, they would without fail help themselves to whatever food they could find in the kitchen.
Police have yet to establish whether they were locals or foreigners but some of the victims strongly believe they are not locals.
They seem to have no fear for alarm systems, close circuit cameras and silent alarms or had any qualms about breaking into even an occupied house.
To give themselves more time to escape, they sometimes disabled the phones so that their victims could not call for help immediately after they freed themselves but paradoxically took their sweet time eating before making their getaway.
Their ritualistic sharing of a meal among themselves in the houses they robbed has given rise to a number of conjectures for their strange behavior, which must have delayed their escape unnecessarily.
Some people simply dismissed them as hungry robbers who had to eat something before fleeing. This was the same explanation given by the police during a press conference recently. They surmised that the robbers had to drive quite a distance to cross the border to Indonesia and could not take the risk of delaying their escape by stopping at coffee shops or stalls to eat and also be spotted by the public in doing so.
However, there is a general consensus that their insistence on eating something before leaving has to do with black magic and mysticism and that they were actually sharing the food with their guardian spirit as part of a bargain for protecting them from slipping up and from being captured.
A victim, who wished to remain anonymous, told thesundaypost that the police explanation that the gang’s eating habits was to allow them to escape across the border without stopping along the way for food was wrong and that a more sinister reason may be behind the gang’s need to fill their stomach after each robbery.
“I definitely believe these people practise some sort of ‘ilmu’ (mystical art) and they need to eat to satisfy whatever spirit that protects them.
“Otherwise, how do you explain their ability to commit so many robberies without getting caught?” said the wife of a doctor, whose family was robbed by the gang on Sept 26.
She went on to relate that on the night the incident took place, she began feeling very sleepy around 9pm, which was unusual for her as she never went to bed before midnight. And as the robbers burst through the master bedroom door, her husband seemed unable to react and just sat passively as the robbers tied them up.
Describing the robbers as ‘organised and methodical’, she said they seemed to know exactly what had to be done and were always in control throughout the entire incident.
Another woman, the wife of a CEO, whose family were the victims on Sept 13, said she believed that the gang members were high on drugs and therefore were hungry leading them to eat whatever food they could find in the house.
However, she admitted hearing stories of the use of ‘ilmu’ by house breaking gangs and said that it might explain the gang’s insatiable appetite.
“I was told by my friends that these people have their own pantang (rituals) to follow whenever they break into houses, so it is possible they need to eat simply to conform to their pantang,” she said.
Both women believed that the gang members were Indonesians as the bills of the hand phones taken by the robbers showed they called someone across the border immediately after escaping.
Showing thesundaypost her handset bill which showed calls being made with her stolen handset to a number in West Kalimantan Indonesia within hours after their house was robbed, the doctor’s wife said that it proved the perpetrators were Indonesains although they probably had local accomplices to help drive them around.
Both victims also said that they had taken extra measures to protect their homes, including installing alarms and additional security grills.
“We are constantly living in fear that the gang will strike back at us again,” said the doctor’s wife.
Are these robbers really the practitioners of ‘black magic’, who entered into a contract with evil to gain riches through their nefarious activities in return for their souls?
However, not all magic spells are cast to bring about harm or protect evil doers as there are also those who turn to the spiritual world for good purposes like healing the sick, help reform unfaithful spouses or rebellious children, and enhancing chances of landing a job.
These people are traditional faith healers locally known as bomoh or dukun. They could be men or women and are usually well respected and even feared in their communities.
They recite chants and prayers to cure illness or free victims of black magic from evil spells. A bomoh or dukun also may be consulted to explain dreams, provide magic charms or potions and even catch evil spirits to cast them away.
To find out more about mysticism and magic spells, thesundaypost talked to two local bomohs, Pak Min and Tok Wan (not real their name) for their views.
Both Pak Min and Tok Wan did not rule out the use of black magic in the case of the ‘hungry gang’, saying magic could be used for either good or evil.
Explaining why the robbers had to eat a meal before escaping, Pak Min believed it was not the robbers who ate the meal rather the ‘genie’ with whom they had entered into a covenant of evil.
“I believe these people use black magic. When they acquire the magic, they made a promise with the genie that they will feed the genie whenever his protection is needed.
“And that is why they must eat whatever food they can find at their victims’ house before they escape with their loots. Actually it was not them (robbers) who ate the food but the genie,” Pak Min opined.
Pak Min further explained that the genie acted as the gang’s guardian, who could have been assigned to them (the robbers) by their master and feeding the genie was part of the bargain in return for their protection.
“If they don’t do that (eat at their victim’s house), the genie will not protect them. If the genie does not guard them, they will be recognised and caught,” he said.
“The genie is with them during that time … ordinary people can’t see the genie but the gang members can. Yes, they eat the food together but actually it was the genie that eat, and they have to let people see their left over because that is also part of the agreement,” he added.
However, Pak Min believed the robbers would not kill their victims because if they do, not only will their magic spell be broken, they could be severely punished by the spirit for taking a life.
“In any magic, white or black, there are many taboos to observe. Those who break them will face grim consequences.
“In the case of the hungry robbers, I believe they are not allowed to kill the victims. They can tie the victims up or threatened them, but not to kill them,” he said.
Tok Wan said robbers could also use ‘pukau’, magic spells that render their victims helpless and too weak to move or cause them to fall into deep sleep while they ransack their houses.
“Although not many practise pukau in Sarawak, they could learn the spell in Indonesia where it is widely practised,” he said.
He did not rule out the use of pukau by the ‘hungry gang’ robbers as in most of the cases, the victims did not do anything but to follow their instructions.
Tok Wan also said partaking a meal at the scene of the crime was one of the rules that must be observed for those who practised pukau.
A day after the break-in of the house of Assistant Minister in CMD at Matang in Kuching on Sept 27, police arrested five people, including four Indonesians, whom they believed were the ‘hungry gang’ who were responsible for a recent spate of robberies.
The suspects have yet to be charged but it seems they are not the ‘hungry gang’ because three cases of robberies during which the robbers helped themselves to whatever food they could find in the house were reported last month.
Is there a new ‘hungry gang’ taking over those who are under police custody or are those sowing fear among house owners in Matang and Batu Kawa areas now part of the same gang still at large?
Room for improvement in Combating Crime
Wednesday, 25 July 2007
(The Borneo Post)
Of late, the incidence of house breaking, involving the robbery of a shotgun in one case, snatchings and thefts, ranging from petty to serious, has made the news and, no doubt, caused much alarm among the public.
Gangs of thuds are active not only in Kuching but also the other major towns, and nothing and no one seems to be spared - shops, offices and homes, ordinary people and VIPs have all been victims.
The are many questions that ought to be asked vis-Ã -vis the recent spate of crimes to have hit the State.
Who are actually behind all these lawless acts? Is it the work of individuals or organised syndicates or both?
Are foreigners or locals involved? Or do both have a hand in this dirty business?
Furthermore, is it because the police have turned the screw on the big-time hoods and are perhaps more focused on solving the high-profile cases that the small-time crooks have seized upon the resultant window of opportunity to break into homes and offices, thinking the police are pre-occupied elsewhere?
Make no mistakes though. Even so-called small-time crimes can turn violent, and victims do get seriously hurt when they refuse to submit to the demands of the perpetrators.
The favourite targets in house-breaking incidents are unattended houses (as in the case of an Assistant Minister whose house was burglarised when no one was around), homes in quiet, if not isolated, residential neighbour-hoods and offices closed over a long holiday … although robbers, posing as company workers, have been known to enter homes and cart away a lorry load of expensive properties.
While it may not be reasonable to expect the police to be everywhere, there is one thing the cops can certainly do to circumvent their seemingly interminable problem of limited manpower: get public-spirited citizens in residential areas to organise themselves into vigilante corps.
This is, of course, not a new idea but one that can surely be encouraged and further promoted with the police providing the leadership.
Nightly patrols by neighbourhood watch groups will promote cooperation among residents to keep crime in check in their areas. And this united stand will go a long towards deterring would-be criminals.
Now, whatever has happened to the police pondok?
Can’t we put up more and spread them around so that police presence will not only be felt but also seen to be felt in greater degree?
Police mobile patrols are well and good, but more, apparently, need to be done as the crime rate could be much higher than officially recorded, considering it’s entirely plausible that not all crimes committed are accounted for.
The full force of the law can only be brought to bear on the perpetrators with stepped up policing and crime-prevention measures, involving close public co-operation.
In combating crime, one pertinent point is that even when thuds are caught, brought before the court and sentenced to jail, there’s no guarantee they will not go back to their criminal ways when released.
Therefore, the authorities may also have to look at the root cause(s) to find out whether it is linked to societal ills such as youths dropping out of school at a young age, broken homes, drug addiction, and above all, unemployment.
It is here that social workers must come into the picture to help put in place a system that goes beyond the usual haul-them-up routine and then leave it to the courts to mete out the sentence.
We may never be as effective as we hope in preventing crime if we tackle the scourge in the same old way. If the system becomes too stereo-typed and predictable, the criminal mind will be able to read the situation and capitalise on it.
In every society, at least 10 per cent of the citizenry falls under the category of incorrigible criminals – and that, arguably, is the raison d’etre for the existence of the police.
But even so, criminality will have gained the upper hand if we allow this 10 per cent to lead astray a much larger group of gullible adults and youngsters alike.
Law enforcement must, thus, stay on their toes to ensure hardened criminal masterminds are kept at bay at all times.
The problems of society have become much more complex and sophisticated, and it is time we tackle them by adopting a holistic approach.For unless we work diligently towards finding a solution to these problems - the challenges to their attainment not withstanding - the present situation may spiral out of hand. We hope it won’t.
(The Borneo Post)
Of late, the incidence of house breaking, involving the robbery of a shotgun in one case, snatchings and thefts, ranging from petty to serious, has made the news and, no doubt, caused much alarm among the public.
Gangs of thuds are active not only in Kuching but also the other major towns, and nothing and no one seems to be spared - shops, offices and homes, ordinary people and VIPs have all been victims.
The are many questions that ought to be asked vis-Ã -vis the recent spate of crimes to have hit the State.
Who are actually behind all these lawless acts? Is it the work of individuals or organised syndicates or both?
Are foreigners or locals involved? Or do both have a hand in this dirty business?
Furthermore, is it because the police have turned the screw on the big-time hoods and are perhaps more focused on solving the high-profile cases that the small-time crooks have seized upon the resultant window of opportunity to break into homes and offices, thinking the police are pre-occupied elsewhere?
Make no mistakes though. Even so-called small-time crimes can turn violent, and victims do get seriously hurt when they refuse to submit to the demands of the perpetrators.
The favourite targets in house-breaking incidents are unattended houses (as in the case of an Assistant Minister whose house was burglarised when no one was around), homes in quiet, if not isolated, residential neighbour-hoods and offices closed over a long holiday … although robbers, posing as company workers, have been known to enter homes and cart away a lorry load of expensive properties.
While it may not be reasonable to expect the police to be everywhere, there is one thing the cops can certainly do to circumvent their seemingly interminable problem of limited manpower: get public-spirited citizens in residential areas to organise themselves into vigilante corps.
This is, of course, not a new idea but one that can surely be encouraged and further promoted with the police providing the leadership.
Nightly patrols by neighbourhood watch groups will promote cooperation among residents to keep crime in check in their areas. And this united stand will go a long towards deterring would-be criminals.
Now, whatever has happened to the police pondok?
Can’t we put up more and spread them around so that police presence will not only be felt but also seen to be felt in greater degree?
Police mobile patrols are well and good, but more, apparently, need to be done as the crime rate could be much higher than officially recorded, considering it’s entirely plausible that not all crimes committed are accounted for.
The full force of the law can only be brought to bear on the perpetrators with stepped up policing and crime-prevention measures, involving close public co-operation.
In combating crime, one pertinent point is that even when thuds are caught, brought before the court and sentenced to jail, there’s no guarantee they will not go back to their criminal ways when released.
Therefore, the authorities may also have to look at the root cause(s) to find out whether it is linked to societal ills such as youths dropping out of school at a young age, broken homes, drug addiction, and above all, unemployment.
It is here that social workers must come into the picture to help put in place a system that goes beyond the usual haul-them-up routine and then leave it to the courts to mete out the sentence.
We may never be as effective as we hope in preventing crime if we tackle the scourge in the same old way. If the system becomes too stereo-typed and predictable, the criminal mind will be able to read the situation and capitalise on it.
In every society, at least 10 per cent of the citizenry falls under the category of incorrigible criminals – and that, arguably, is the raison d’etre for the existence of the police.
But even so, criminality will have gained the upper hand if we allow this 10 per cent to lead astray a much larger group of gullible adults and youngsters alike.
Law enforcement must, thus, stay on their toes to ensure hardened criminal masterminds are kept at bay at all times.
The problems of society have become much more complex and sophisticated, and it is time we tackle them by adopting a holistic approach.For unless we work diligently towards finding a solution to these problems - the challenges to their attainment not withstanding - the present situation may spiral out of hand. We hope it won’t.
New York has done it, Can' we?
Just an article for sharing....
New Straits Times, Friday, January 26, 2007
Zainah Anwar
IN one second, I can think of at least nine friends and family members whose homes have been broken into these past few years.
My Suhakam car was stolen in front of my gates a few years ago. Two weeks ago, a snatch thief got away with the handbag of the daughter of my cleaning woman as they were riding a motorcycle to my house.
Except for the stolen car, no arrests were made.
A friend living in Petaling Jaya, whose house was burgled four times, now offers ang pow money to burglars.
The cash is placed in a white envelope, with a clearly marked "$" sign on the cover, and placed prominently on a table in her living room. It used to be RM300, then RM500. Now, it is RM800 to match the rising cost of living.
She would rather the burglars take the money and run, than her having to face the trauma, yet again, of a ransacked home and an unsolved case.
The ordeal that Kuching shopowner Tengku Auvoraza Tengku Abraham went through facing 30 burglaries since 2004, four just this month, is a serious indictment of our criminal justice system.
For decades now, the police crime index has registered an increase in the number of reported crime cases. From 1998-2002, there was, however, a dip in the trend, except for violent crimes.
But the crime index began to rise again from 2003. What is most alarming is the phenomenal 63 per cent average increase in violent crimes (which includes murder, rape, outrage of modesty, robbery, assault) for the first nine months of last year over 2005.
There was also a 12 per cent increase in property crimes over the same period. These are just the reported cases. How many more cases go unreported?
Many of us feel even more vulnerable — to rape, snatch theft, burglary, robbery. In my neighbourhood, residents got together to hire private security to set up a check-point and patrol the streets after an increased spate of burglaries and car thefts a year ago.
How is our police analysing this rising crime rate and what exactly are they doing to reduce it, beyond recruiting more personnel and deploying more policemen to patrol the streets?
Most criminologists attribute the incidence of rising crime to socio-economic issues — poverty, inequality, joblessness, drug use, demographic trends, etc. Tackle these problems and crime will go down, they say.
But studies on the phenomenal consistent decline in the crime rate of New York City over the past 15 years compared with the national US average show one major single factor that made the difference — policing. Both in tactics and technology.
From the war zone of the 1980s, New York City has now been transformed into the safest big city in the US. From 1990 to 2000, murder, robbery, burglary and auto theft dropped over 70 per cent, twice the national average.
From 2000-2005, the city’s crime rate fell another 30 per cent, bucking the rising national trend. And the crime rate continues to plummet, even as the prison population continues to shrink in New York City, challenging those who believe in constructing more prisons and locking up more people to reduce crime.
Why and how this is happening continues to be debated. But most New Yorkers attribute the dramatic dive which began in 1994 to the introduction of assertive policing by the newly-elected Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who won election on his promise to reduce crime.
Proponents of effective policing point to the "broken windows theory" and the pioneering Compstat (computer statistics) developed by the New York Police Department (NYPD) in the 1990s.
The broken windows theory holds that unpunished minor offences lead to an atmosphere of disorder that can lead to more major crimes.
Now they go after misdemeanours that affect the quality of life, crimes such as throwing stones at the neighbourhood laundry shop (causing broken windows), loitering, drinking alcohol in the streets, urinating in public and jumping subway turnstiles.
By doing this, the police come into contact with a much broader segment of the population who could potentially graduate to more serious offences than if they were to only pursue serious crimes.
In the early days, New York City policemen denigrated this "quality of life policing" as a waste of resources.
But what it did was to eliminate the sense of public disorder in the streets. Also gone was the feeling that they could not be caught (which would have emboldened them to move on to commit more serious crimes).
The broken windows theory claims that petty offenders and hard-core criminals are often one and the same people.
The extensive police records of minor offenders meant wider resources of suspects’ profile to comb through when serious crimes occurred.
This sort of policing which focused on minor crimes often entailed aggressive tactics. This led to charges of police brutality and racism in the 1990s as police statistics showed that most of the minor offences were committed by young blacks and Hispanics. Thus, they often became targets of crackdowns.
This resulted in an outrage in the community and youth alienation among minorities.
Compstat, the other pivotal anti-crime strategy used by the NYPD, has attracted police officers from all over the world to study its workings.
Under Compstat, each precinct commander attends monthly NYPD command centre meetings where they brief their top bosses on crime in their precincts and the efforts to combat it.
These three-hour meetings are attended by some 200 officials, including those from the District Attorney’s office, Housing, Welfare, parole and probation agencies, and public schools.
Precinct statistics displayed on a huge screen are scrutinised relentlessly and precinct commanders are grilled by the bosses on the statistics.
They are questioned why the arrests are fewer, are they satisfied with that, why was there a sudden spike in snatch thefts, were their men and women sitting behind desks instead of patrolling the streets and why their domestic violence officers didn’t visit high-risk offenders at night or over the weekends.
These meetings, which break down traditional barriers to communication, reportedly generate unmatched cumulative knowledge about tactics. They evaluate what works and what does not.
Commanding officers learn and relearn constantly, for example, not to close a case before every assailant a victim identifies is detained for questioning and to ensure that an arrest leads to an indictment.
Cops are reminded that if they go to court without enough evidence and the case is thrown out because of police negligence, then the alleged robber does not just go back on the street, but goes back emboldened.
Again, Compstat has been controversial as critics allege that the constant pressure placed on precinct commanders (responsible for an average of 100,000 residents) to reduce crime can lead to falsified reporting rates in order to show improvements.
But new research comparing the official police statistics with independent sources, such as the National Crime Victimisation Survey and the New York City Medical Examiner, show similar dramatic falls in crimes during the same period.
I would be very surprised if the Malaysian police have not caught up with the NYPD policing technology and tactics and how they can be adapted to our situation.
I first learnt about it when I attended a Harvard Business School course for non-profit organisations some 10 years ago where the "broken windows theory" was presented as a case study of successful problem solving.
I was alerted, too, to the controversy as a few black men and women from New York City challenged the professor’s definition of success as this assertive policing style had also led to victimisation, racism and increased police brutality of minority communities.
These issues are now being dealt with by Giulani’s successors.
A cut on aggressive "stop and frisk" tactics was ordered and police officers were required to meet with local business leaders and community organisations regularly to maintain good contact, find out problems and help to solve them.
Personal security and public safety are fundamental to a civil society and our general sense of well-being.
I would loathe to see the neighbourhoods of Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya beginning to look like Johannesburg where the middle-class, white and black, have resorted to barricades and private security guards and created their own no-go zones for outsiders.
The lesson of New York City is that assertive and effective policing, combined with improved community relations, have led to a lower crime rate and better quality of life.
This has led to a revitalised city, with residents working closely with the police to maintain public safety and deter crimes.
It is bad enough to be a victim of a crime, but worse when you have no confidence that the police and the criminal justice system are able to tackle it. Even worse is if it gives you no hope that the future will be better.
New Straits Times, Friday, January 26, 2007
Zainah Anwar
IN one second, I can think of at least nine friends and family members whose homes have been broken into these past few years.
My Suhakam car was stolen in front of my gates a few years ago. Two weeks ago, a snatch thief got away with the handbag of the daughter of my cleaning woman as they were riding a motorcycle to my house.
Except for the stolen car, no arrests were made.
A friend living in Petaling Jaya, whose house was burgled four times, now offers ang pow money to burglars.
The cash is placed in a white envelope, with a clearly marked "$" sign on the cover, and placed prominently on a table in her living room. It used to be RM300, then RM500. Now, it is RM800 to match the rising cost of living.
She would rather the burglars take the money and run, than her having to face the trauma, yet again, of a ransacked home and an unsolved case.
The ordeal that Kuching shopowner Tengku Auvoraza Tengku Abraham went through facing 30 burglaries since 2004, four just this month, is a serious indictment of our criminal justice system.
For decades now, the police crime index has registered an increase in the number of reported crime cases. From 1998-2002, there was, however, a dip in the trend, except for violent crimes.
But the crime index began to rise again from 2003. What is most alarming is the phenomenal 63 per cent average increase in violent crimes (which includes murder, rape, outrage of modesty, robbery, assault) for the first nine months of last year over 2005.
There was also a 12 per cent increase in property crimes over the same period. These are just the reported cases. How many more cases go unreported?
Many of us feel even more vulnerable — to rape, snatch theft, burglary, robbery. In my neighbourhood, residents got together to hire private security to set up a check-point and patrol the streets after an increased spate of burglaries and car thefts a year ago.
How is our police analysing this rising crime rate and what exactly are they doing to reduce it, beyond recruiting more personnel and deploying more policemen to patrol the streets?
Most criminologists attribute the incidence of rising crime to socio-economic issues — poverty, inequality, joblessness, drug use, demographic trends, etc. Tackle these problems and crime will go down, they say.
But studies on the phenomenal consistent decline in the crime rate of New York City over the past 15 years compared with the national US average show one major single factor that made the difference — policing. Both in tactics and technology.
From the war zone of the 1980s, New York City has now been transformed into the safest big city in the US. From 1990 to 2000, murder, robbery, burglary and auto theft dropped over 70 per cent, twice the national average.
From 2000-2005, the city’s crime rate fell another 30 per cent, bucking the rising national trend. And the crime rate continues to plummet, even as the prison population continues to shrink in New York City, challenging those who believe in constructing more prisons and locking up more people to reduce crime.
Why and how this is happening continues to be debated. But most New Yorkers attribute the dramatic dive which began in 1994 to the introduction of assertive policing by the newly-elected Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who won election on his promise to reduce crime.
Proponents of effective policing point to the "broken windows theory" and the pioneering Compstat (computer statistics) developed by the New York Police Department (NYPD) in the 1990s.
The broken windows theory holds that unpunished minor offences lead to an atmosphere of disorder that can lead to more major crimes.
Now they go after misdemeanours that affect the quality of life, crimes such as throwing stones at the neighbourhood laundry shop (causing broken windows), loitering, drinking alcohol in the streets, urinating in public and jumping subway turnstiles.
By doing this, the police come into contact with a much broader segment of the population who could potentially graduate to more serious offences than if they were to only pursue serious crimes.
In the early days, New York City policemen denigrated this "quality of life policing" as a waste of resources.
But what it did was to eliminate the sense of public disorder in the streets. Also gone was the feeling that they could not be caught (which would have emboldened them to move on to commit more serious crimes).
The broken windows theory claims that petty offenders and hard-core criminals are often one and the same people.
The extensive police records of minor offenders meant wider resources of suspects’ profile to comb through when serious crimes occurred.
This sort of policing which focused on minor crimes often entailed aggressive tactics. This led to charges of police brutality and racism in the 1990s as police statistics showed that most of the minor offences were committed by young blacks and Hispanics. Thus, they often became targets of crackdowns.
This resulted in an outrage in the community and youth alienation among minorities.
Compstat, the other pivotal anti-crime strategy used by the NYPD, has attracted police officers from all over the world to study its workings.
Under Compstat, each precinct commander attends monthly NYPD command centre meetings where they brief their top bosses on crime in their precincts and the efforts to combat it.
These three-hour meetings are attended by some 200 officials, including those from the District Attorney’s office, Housing, Welfare, parole and probation agencies, and public schools.
Precinct statistics displayed on a huge screen are scrutinised relentlessly and precinct commanders are grilled by the bosses on the statistics.
They are questioned why the arrests are fewer, are they satisfied with that, why was there a sudden spike in snatch thefts, were their men and women sitting behind desks instead of patrolling the streets and why their domestic violence officers didn’t visit high-risk offenders at night or over the weekends.
These meetings, which break down traditional barriers to communication, reportedly generate unmatched cumulative knowledge about tactics. They evaluate what works and what does not.
Commanding officers learn and relearn constantly, for example, not to close a case before every assailant a victim identifies is detained for questioning and to ensure that an arrest leads to an indictment.
Cops are reminded that if they go to court without enough evidence and the case is thrown out because of police negligence, then the alleged robber does not just go back on the street, but goes back emboldened.
Again, Compstat has been controversial as critics allege that the constant pressure placed on precinct commanders (responsible for an average of 100,000 residents) to reduce crime can lead to falsified reporting rates in order to show improvements.
But new research comparing the official police statistics with independent sources, such as the National Crime Victimisation Survey and the New York City Medical Examiner, show similar dramatic falls in crimes during the same period.
I would be very surprised if the Malaysian police have not caught up with the NYPD policing technology and tactics and how they can be adapted to our situation.
I first learnt about it when I attended a Harvard Business School course for non-profit organisations some 10 years ago where the "broken windows theory" was presented as a case study of successful problem solving.
I was alerted, too, to the controversy as a few black men and women from New York City challenged the professor’s definition of success as this assertive policing style had also led to victimisation, racism and increased police brutality of minority communities.
These issues are now being dealt with by Giulani’s successors.
A cut on aggressive "stop and frisk" tactics was ordered and police officers were required to meet with local business leaders and community organisations regularly to maintain good contact, find out problems and help to solve them.
Personal security and public safety are fundamental to a civil society and our general sense of well-being.
I would loathe to see the neighbourhoods of Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya beginning to look like Johannesburg where the middle-class, white and black, have resorted to barricades and private security guards and created their own no-go zones for outsiders.
The lesson of New York City is that assertive and effective policing, combined with improved community relations, have led to a lower crime rate and better quality of life.
This has led to a revitalised city, with residents working closely with the police to maintain public safety and deter crimes.
It is bad enough to be a victim of a crime, but worse when you have no confidence that the police and the criminal justice system are able to tackle it. Even worse is if it gives you no hope that the future will be better.
Robbery in Kuching
Detectives looking for clues at the house.
By Connie Chieng
KUCHING: A National Service trainer and his family endured an hour of terror when four men, wearing masks and armed with two parangs, a screw driver and a cutter, broke into their rented house at Lorong A3, BDC and made off with at least RM10,000 in valuables.According to the ex-army man, 46, from Peninsular Malaysia, he has been on a stint in Sarawak for a year to conduct training for National Service trainees.He said the robbers broke into the house through the back door and then they broke into his 14-year-old son’s bedroom. After grabbing his son, they called out to him to open the door to the master bedroom.When the man saw the masked men, he tried to slam the door shut but they showed him his son whose hands were already tied behind his the back. He and his wife, who is a kindergarten teacher, were then tied up with cables ripped from a fan.According to the victims, despite wearing masks, the robbers still hid their faces with clothes taken from the clothe lines.The couple’s two younger children, a four-year-old daughter and eight-year-old son, who were sleeping were left alone. Their other daughter, aged 16, who was in the other bedroom, was taken to the master bedroom and tied up. The four robbers then ransacked all the three bedrooms upstairs and made off with three mobile phones, RM100 cash and gold jewellery. The trainer said he untied himself, then woke up his two sleeping children and told them to go to the master bedroom. He then shouted to neighbours through a window but none heard him. He said the four robbers spoke in Malay and he believed that there were foreigners among them judging from their accent.Police later searched the surrounding areas for clues. This is the sixth robbery case in the city this year.
By Connie Chieng
KUCHING: A National Service trainer and his family endured an hour of terror when four men, wearing masks and armed with two parangs, a screw driver and a cutter, broke into their rented house at Lorong A3, BDC and made off with at least RM10,000 in valuables.According to the ex-army man, 46, from Peninsular Malaysia, he has been on a stint in Sarawak for a year to conduct training for National Service trainees.He said the robbers broke into the house through the back door and then they broke into his 14-year-old son’s bedroom. After grabbing his son, they called out to him to open the door to the master bedroom.When the man saw the masked men, he tried to slam the door shut but they showed him his son whose hands were already tied behind his the back. He and his wife, who is a kindergarten teacher, were then tied up with cables ripped from a fan.According to the victims, despite wearing masks, the robbers still hid their faces with clothes taken from the clothe lines.The couple’s two younger children, a four-year-old daughter and eight-year-old son, who were sleeping were left alone. Their other daughter, aged 16, who was in the other bedroom, was taken to the master bedroom and tied up. The four robbers then ransacked all the three bedrooms upstairs and made off with three mobile phones, RM100 cash and gold jewellery. The trainer said he untied himself, then woke up his two sleeping children and told them to go to the master bedroom. He then shouted to neighbours through a window but none heard him. He said the four robbers spoke in Malay and he believed that there were foreigners among them judging from their accent.Police later searched the surrounding areas for clues. This is the sixth robbery case in the city this year.
For the past 3 years, I was also involved with preparing the programes for the NS to go for visits to government agencies, NGOs and villages, very hectic and time consuming, hopely they can do better this year...
Hope the police will be able to catch the culprits soon...
Ready for a big Chinese New Year bang in Kuching
The firecrackers seized from the two women.
KUCHING: A police team from Badruddin Road Monday night arrested two women after firecrackers were found in one of the rooms in their house. Following a public tip-off, the police team raided the house at about midnight. The two women were brought to the Simpang Tiga police station for further investigation.It was unclear who kept the firecrackers inside the house and the amount of firecrackers was still being sorted out as the boxes of firecrackers were already opened, ready to be sold.The two women in their 30s and 60s when arrested claimed that the firecrackers belonged to their brother and both of them did not know what their brother kept inside the room.In another case, a police officer received information from the Sarawak General Hospital Emergency ward yesterday that a middle-age man was seriously injured.The man, identified as Voon Choon Choi, sustained serious head injury and could have been beaten with a hard object.Police are investigating the case.
KUCHING: A police team from Badruddin Road Monday night arrested two women after firecrackers were found in one of the rooms in their house. Following a public tip-off, the police team raided the house at about midnight. The two women were brought to the Simpang Tiga police station for further investigation.It was unclear who kept the firecrackers inside the house and the amount of firecrackers was still being sorted out as the boxes of firecrackers were already opened, ready to be sold.The two women in their 30s and 60s when arrested claimed that the firecrackers belonged to their brother and both of them did not know what their brother kept inside the room.In another case, a police officer received information from the Sarawak General Hospital Emergency ward yesterday that a middle-age man was seriously injured.The man, identified as Voon Choon Choi, sustained serious head injury and could have been beaten with a hard object.Police are investigating the case.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Masih hidup juga...
Nyom Nyom Aloys (left) of Sarawak challenges a Penang player during their Super League match at Sarawak Stadium on Saturday night. Sarawak won the match 3-0. PHOTO: RAMIDI SUBARI
By Fitzpatrick Ricky
KUCHING: Despite their 3-0 win against Penang last Saturday night at Sarawak Stadium, the Crocs are still placed last in the current Malaysian League standings.It was the Crocs second win of the season where the “Ngap Sayot” chant was heard from the start of the match. All three goals were scored in the first half of the match where winger Shahrol Saperi, who scored the first goal of the night in the 14th minute, heated up the match with more cheers and chants coming from the spectators.It was game on for the visitors in the 20th minute thanks to Penang’s team’s poor defence line for Zamri Morshidi to score the second goal of Shahrol’s header.The final goal was scored by Sylla Mansa in the 34th minute when fellow import player Nyom Nyom Aloys passed a header to Mansa to demoralised the visitors even more. The match showed a big improvement from the Crocs, with good play by the players and also solid defence as each time Penang tried to go upfront, their crosses and passes were laid to waste by Sarawak defenders.According to team manager Razali Dolhan, the team’s improvement may be due to the presence of the new coach, Kunju Jamaluddin’s right decision making in team play with added advantage given by the import players.He added that the team deserved to win as they were playing on home ground and due to the fact that they have lost in so many matches since the beginning of the league.This is a much-needed win for the team as they need points to secure a good position in the standings and boost the team’s morale.Nevertheless, Razali said their wins has yet to reach a “proud” level as they could have scored more in the second half of the match.Razali added that with the Crocs latest performance, it is good and timely for Kunju to determine the best formula for Sarawak in more matches to come.
By Fitzpatrick Ricky
KUCHING: Despite their 3-0 win against Penang last Saturday night at Sarawak Stadium, the Crocs are still placed last in the current Malaysian League standings.It was the Crocs second win of the season where the “Ngap Sayot” chant was heard from the start of the match. All three goals were scored in the first half of the match where winger Shahrol Saperi, who scored the first goal of the night in the 14th minute, heated up the match with more cheers and chants coming from the spectators.It was game on for the visitors in the 20th minute thanks to Penang’s team’s poor defence line for Zamri Morshidi to score the second goal of Shahrol’s header.The final goal was scored by Sylla Mansa in the 34th minute when fellow import player Nyom Nyom Aloys passed a header to Mansa to demoralised the visitors even more. The match showed a big improvement from the Crocs, with good play by the players and also solid defence as each time Penang tried to go upfront, their crosses and passes were laid to waste by Sarawak defenders.According to team manager Razali Dolhan, the team’s improvement may be due to the presence of the new coach, Kunju Jamaluddin’s right decision making in team play with added advantage given by the import players.He added that the team deserved to win as they were playing on home ground and due to the fact that they have lost in so many matches since the beginning of the league.This is a much-needed win for the team as they need points to secure a good position in the standings and boost the team’s morale.Nevertheless, Razali said their wins has yet to reach a “proud” level as they could have scored more in the second half of the match.Razali added that with the Crocs latest performance, it is good and timely for Kunju to determine the best formula for Sarawak in more matches to come.
Kambing Panggang
The smuggled goats.
By Connie Chieng
BAU: The army manning the border with Indonesia in Bau were surprised by two motorcyclists, both Indonesians, intending to smuggle goats into the state at about 10 am on Sunday.
The goats were kept in four big baskets attached to the motorcycles.
As the two motorcyclists were unable to produce any document when asked to, they were arrested.
The army brought the two suspects to the Bau police station who then alerted the Agriculture Department.
The Director of Agriculture Department, Nicholas Jemak thanked the army and police for their assistance.
He said it was an offence to smuggle goats into the country.
The maximum penalty for the offence is RM50,000 fine or jail of not more than two years or both upon conviction.
The two suspects in their 20s are being held for further questioning.
The goats were brought to the Agriculture Department for checking before they were destroyed.
By Connie Chieng
BAU: The army manning the border with Indonesia in Bau were surprised by two motorcyclists, both Indonesians, intending to smuggle goats into the state at about 10 am on Sunday.
The goats were kept in four big baskets attached to the motorcycles.
As the two motorcyclists were unable to produce any document when asked to, they were arrested.
The army brought the two suspects to the Bau police station who then alerted the Agriculture Department.
The Director of Agriculture Department, Nicholas Jemak thanked the army and police for their assistance.
He said it was an offence to smuggle goats into the country.
The maximum penalty for the offence is RM50,000 fine or jail of not more than two years or both upon conviction.
The two suspects in their 20s are being held for further questioning.
The goats were brought to the Agriculture Department for checking before they were destroyed.
Back again
Sorry, didn't logged in for so long. Busy with MTR 9MP,
Met Mr. Buckland and Mr. Dahim from Sarawak at the MTR 9MP Workshop at PICC last week.. and some guys from homeland...
Met Mr. Buckland and Mr. Dahim from Sarawak at the MTR 9MP Workshop at PICC last week.. and some guys from homeland...
Monday, January 14, 2008
Sarawak Anthem
Fair land Sarawak we will never cease to honour thee
And with our Loyal Sons defend your Liberty
From your high forest hills down to the open sea
May freedom ever reign, men live in unity
Proudly our flag flies high above our Country strong and free
Long may our people live in peace and Harmony.
The lyrics was written by F.C. Ogden and the music revised and arranged by GRK Freeth.
Sourced from Blue Tanjong Blog
And with our Loyal Sons defend your Liberty
From your high forest hills down to the open sea
May freedom ever reign, men live in unity
Proudly our flag flies high above our Country strong and free
Long may our people live in peace and Harmony.
The lyrics was written by F.C. Ogden and the music revised and arranged by GRK Freeth.
Sourced from Blue Tanjong Blog
Friday, January 11, 2008
Sexy Football
Ruud Gullit use this phrase when he was the manager of Newcastle United...This week Manu vs Newcastle United...
Thursday, January 3, 2008
NST Online 2007/12/21
Kuching, Sibu on maximum alert
KUCHING: Flood watchers and rescue services in the Kuching and Sibu divisions of Sarawak have been ordered to be on maximum alert.
There are fears that Kuching and Samarahan could, for the first time in three years, be hit by floods, while Sibu and low-lying areas along the Rajang River could again be inundated by water, the second time in as many weeks, this weekend."The forecast for areas in central and western Sarawak this weekend is not too good," the state's Natural Disaster and Relief Committee chairman Tan Sri Dr George Chan said yesterday."In fact, it is quite bad. Heavy rain has been forecast for the next 72 hours over these parts of the state. And all it takes is 100ml of rain to trigger a flood," he added.Dr Chan said strong winds of up to 50kph had also been forecast to hit the coastal areas of the southern half of the state over the same period.
He said the winds could push the tides even higher."The spectre of floods is there. Even today, it's already looking gloomy over Kuching." Kuching folks celebrated Hari Raya Aidiladha yesterday in cold and wet conditions.Sibu and low-lying areas along Sungai Rajang were hit by floods last week after 112ml of rain fell over Kapit.Those were the first areas in the state to be hit by a major flood this year.There was some evacuation in Kanowit, with more than 40 families from two longhouses moved to higher ground.Floods in the state are normally triggered by the combination of heavy rain and the seasonal king tide, whose cycle starts tomorrow. It ends on Dec 29 with the king tide on Christmas Day the highest at 6.1metres.The last time Kuching and Samarahan divisions were hit by a serious flood was in 2004.
Kuching, Sibu on maximum alert
KUCHING: Flood watchers and rescue services in the Kuching and Sibu divisions of Sarawak have been ordered to be on maximum alert.
There are fears that Kuching and Samarahan could, for the first time in three years, be hit by floods, while Sibu and low-lying areas along the Rajang River could again be inundated by water, the second time in as many weeks, this weekend."The forecast for areas in central and western Sarawak this weekend is not too good," the state's Natural Disaster and Relief Committee chairman Tan Sri Dr George Chan said yesterday."In fact, it is quite bad. Heavy rain has been forecast for the next 72 hours over these parts of the state. And all it takes is 100ml of rain to trigger a flood," he added.Dr Chan said strong winds of up to 50kph had also been forecast to hit the coastal areas of the southern half of the state over the same period.
He said the winds could push the tides even higher."The spectre of floods is there. Even today, it's already looking gloomy over Kuching." Kuching folks celebrated Hari Raya Aidiladha yesterday in cold and wet conditions.Sibu and low-lying areas along Sungai Rajang were hit by floods last week after 112ml of rain fell over Kapit.Those were the first areas in the state to be hit by a major flood this year.There was some evacuation in Kanowit, with more than 40 families from two longhouses moved to higher ground.Floods in the state are normally triggered by the combination of heavy rain and the seasonal king tide, whose cycle starts tomorrow. It ends on Dec 29 with the king tide on Christmas Day the highest at 6.1metres.The last time Kuching and Samarahan divisions were hit by a serious flood was in 2004.
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