Public safety key to S’wak achieving high-income status, says deputy minister

SIBU (Oct 15): Public safety is an important element in Sarawak’s mission to become a developed and high-income region by 2030, said Datuk Michael Tiang.

The Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government said investor and community confidence towards the state’s development will be affected without a guaranteed level of security.

“This will pose difficultly for the state government to realise the vision of ‘Sarawak Maju’, as public safety is the foundation of prosperity and economic growth.

“If we take security matters lightly, the confidence of the investors and the community will fade, and this will defeat our goals,” he said.

Tiang said this during a townhall session entitled ‘Bicara Jenayah: Kesiapsiagaan Mendepani Isu Jenayah’, organised by the Sibu District Police Headquarters in collaboration with the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) here yesterday.

Sarawak deputy police commissioner Datuk Ibrahim Darus officiated at the event held at UTS’s premises, which was attended by heads of government agencies and departments, community leaders, village security and development committees, and UTS students.

The townhall session featured panellists comprising of Sarawak Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief SAC Wong Ing Fung; Sarawak Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) chief ACP Mustafa Kamal Gani Abdullah; Sarawak Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) chief Supt Maria Rasit; and DSP Alif Charles Belon, who is with the Special Task Force, the National Strategic Office (NSO), the Council for Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (MAPO).

Earlier in his speech, Tiang emphasised that close cooperation between the community and the authorities, especially the police, is a key factor in ensuring that public safety is constantly maintained.

He also praised the initiative of the police in organising awareness programmes meant to increase cooperation with the local communities.

“I believe that community-based prevention strategies are the best way to lower crime rates. A good relationship between the community and the police is crucial in fostering a peaceful and safe environment for all,” he added.

Also present were Sarawak Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department chief SAC Lukas Aket; UTS vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Khairuddin Abdul Hamid; Sibu District officer Wee Teck Min; and Sibu police chief ACP Zulkipli Suhaili.