Crime rate: Klang residents live in fear, likens district to Colombia

KLANG - Residents who live in Klang are currently concerned about the rising crime incidents in the district, likening it to Colombia.

This situation has led to some residents being afraid to leave their homes for daily activities, including going to work.

A resident from Rantau Panjang, Mohd Norhafizi Ab Hamid, 34, said that the crime he feared the most was break-ins and he was afraid of becoming a victim.

"Previously, we heard about incidents affecting the same residents repeatedly and naturally, there is an anxious feeling because no one knows who will be the next victim.

"Some are also afraid to go to work because they fear that their homes might be broken into by criminals or drug addicts," he told Sinar.

Another resident, Muhamad Aiman Syahmi Shamsul, 24, who worked at Port Klang hoped that all parties can collaborate to address the crime.

"Crime continues to reoccur due to a lack of enforcement and I have to moved to Teluk Panglima Garang because it is safer there," he said.

On Monday, the Bukit Aman Crime Investigation Department (CID) made a work visit, here, this year.

It was reported that its director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said that the crime rate was increasing nationwide, including in the district.

"I chose Klang for my first visit this year because the crime index or crime rate throughout the country is increasing.

"Not only is crime increasing in Klang, but when it is said that Klang is a district resembling Colombia, it saddens me," he said during the 'Kesejahteraan Komuniti Kemakmuran Bersama' town hall session at the Klang Hokkien Association.

Meanwhile, Klang MP V. Ganabatirau, commended the police for holding a town hall session to understand the feelings of the community.

"They (the community) can express their desires and fears, so I see this as an opportunity for them to express their feelings to the police.

"I believe the police, especially the CID, will take note (of complaints), and they will change their stance so as not to be too defensive," he said.

He acknowledged the constraints faced by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) in terms of the limited number of personnel in overseeing a densely populated district like Klang.