My Longkang

Pic courtesy of the Borneo Post

A very sad thing happened in Sibu on Thursday night. A man believed to be a labourer/blacksmith was beaten to death by his ex-girlfriend’s boyfriend.

The deceased, Ringgit was from Ulu Selangau in Mukah. An auxiliary policeman saw them fighting but did not stop as he was in a hurry. When he returned a little later, Ringgit was already dead. Ringgit had a swollen forehead and face, and a hole at the back of his head.

Two persons, a woman (the deceased’s ex-girlfriend) and her grandfather were arrested to assist the police in their investigations. Another man was later arrested. The girl apparently had agreed to marry Ringgit but jilted him a few days before the marriage.

It is believed the girl had several boyfriends.No woman or man is worth murdering for. To read more, here

Six representatives including three longhouse chiefs in Ulu Suai, Niah commended Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing for speaking out on the gangsterism issue.

They were at a media conference to make their stories known. They alleged that they had been threatened them over the development of their NCL in Ulu Suai last December. They are still fearful for their well-being and they repeated their call to the relevant authorities to follow up the case where a local farmer was bashed up by six men.
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Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has come out in the press to urge people to speak out.

A Borneo Post reporter ( he did not identify himself ) went around town trying to talk to the people in Sibu to find out their views on crime issues and found that it was not an easy task. To find out why, click Culture of fear

If they did talk with him, they would not like to be quoted. “I don’t want a Molotov cocktail tossed into my garage tonight,” was a common rely they gave him. He interviewed many people for his article, but almost all from behind the curtain. Some said they didn’t want to offend the police.

Gangsters and their weapons

It was reported in the Borneo Post today that Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing questioned the wisdom of CID director Datuk Christopher Wan publicly announcing that he was leading some 90 anti-gangsterism police officers to Sarawak, particularly Sibu.

He said that while he appreciated Wan’s efforts against gangsterism, including his promise to nail down the black sheep in the Sarawak police for their alleged corruption and misconduct, he felt that Wan had set aside his (Tiong’s) suggestion to send a team here undercover.

A cross-section of comments I have heard today.
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The public has been urged to stop finger pointing at others and work out solutions to the crime situation in the state of Sarawak.

However I must point out one thing. All along for the past few decades, the people of Sarawak have been by and by mainly peace-loving folk, minding their own business as the days go by. There have been no protests in the streets when unpopular decisions are made that are against the interests of the people. Sarawakians are made of sterner stuff. They keep it in their consciences and release it on polling day.

I feel that the various quarters should appreciate this feed-back from the public. This is an irreversible trend. The people of Sarawak as have people in all places have learned the meaning of ‘forming their own opinions’ and the various parties should appreciate the feedback for what it is :the public’s intuitive reaction to any crisis that befalls them .

Thus if any party feels slighted, they shouldn’t. Stop defensive postures and instead let us all examine ourselves: from the humble rakyat to the civil servants to the politicians in their lofty ivory towers. What is our role in this and how can we make it better?

The police have all along urged for some feedback. Now, they have got it. It is a useful intelligence gathering source, is it not? I am sure some will be exaggerations or mere hearsay but there will be gems amongst the chaff.

Do not attempt to stifle this healthy ‘expression of opinions’ by dictating what is permissible and what is not.

Streets are safe at night Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh who resides in Sibu reiterated that the streets of Sibu are safe. I couldn’t agree with him more. On the surface, everything does seem calm in the town. Agreed, there are problems but they are not so big they cannot be solved.

With the visit of IGP after the initial uproar raised by Datuk Seri Tiong Kong Sing’s speech in parliment, perhaps things will be even better in the years to come? Anyway, I thank any politician who highlights issues that causes action to be taken. He is paying for his supper and reinforces the voters’ faith and trust in him.

The press?

Pak Lah yesterday ordered The Royal Malaysian Police to wage an all out war on criminals and terrorists and likened it to a struggle to wipe out the threat to the nation and its people.

IGP vows to clean up Sarawak.The IGP has pledged on clean-up operations in the state to rid it of secret societies and gangsters. He said he had visited Kuching and Sibu and issued a stern warning to Sarawak police personnel not to get involved in activities detrimental to the force. At the same time he said some gangs were involved in illegal logging and had a grip on businesses in the state to the extent of having the clout to determine the price of goods.

In the meantime, Federal CID Director, Datuk Christopher Wan Soo Kee has issued this warning, “Stop all activities that can disrupt public order in Sarawak.” Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Talib Jamal urged members of the public to provide information and assist the police.

The Sarawak Central Region Hotel Association Chairman Johnny Wong Sie Lie voiced total support for Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing’s statements about gangsterism for Sibu in particular and the state in general. He said, ” Everyone wants to see peace and tranquility return to Sibu. The people ask no more than a clean, safe environment where children can grow up as good citizens of tomorrow.

In Sibu a construction worker was found dead with multiple slash wounds in Jalan Nan Sang yesterday morning. Meanwhile the 27-year old man, Talib who was attacked at Jalan Mahsuri yesterday is in stable condition but has kept mum on who attacked him.

In Sarikei a man who came forward to claim that the police refused to take his report at the police station was stunned when the police said he never lodged any reports and in fact it was his mother-in-law who did so in February 2005. The police said the report was for reference only. No statement was given to clarify why his report was not treated seriously or recorded or how the loan sharks knew he was in the police station or how they called him at the police station telling him not to waste his time.

Previously the complainant Wong had alleged he was beaten up a few times, and threatened that his legs and hands would be chopped off. Wong said, “The policeman said he did not see me being beaten up by the loan shark.” ( I got this and other materials from today’s newspaper. There is no link yet on the website. )

In Kuching, Inti College Sarawak managing director and chief executive, Wiilliam Tan said, ” We view with grave concern the safety and well-being of our Malaysian and international students.” 15 students from the college: one Malaysian, one Bangladeshi, six Africans, four Chinese nationals, two Indonesians and one Pakistani had been either mugged or assaulted.

On April 1, a Nigerian student was seriously injured by a group of men. He was brutally assaulted and sustained slash wounds on the face, head and upper body. Other students called the police but none turned up at the scene. Only at the Sarawak General Hospital did they manage to make a report to the police personnel stationed there.

Over in Miri, Mirian are disappointed that the IGP did not visit Miri on his recent trip to Sibu and Kuching. Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communication Lee Kim Shin said this would be appreciated by the community as they would have been able to provide feedback and views to him. A man who was forced to leave Miri for Kuala Lumpur following an extortion and threat to his life wants Sarawak Police Commissioner to act on his report lodged six months ago. Wong Teck Sing unfurled a banner in red paint in front of Miri Central Police Station at about 2p.m. yesterday. His report is 14594/06/Miri. He alleges that his report was not acted on satisfactorily by the police. He first made public his harassment by gangsters at a press conference in KL last year.

Further reads:The Star
Shot suspect

In the past few years I have had few encounters with the police. I have no grouses against them or any body for that matter. So, I am in no position whatsoever to rate the police or their services. So it was a surprise when I came across this article in The Star which said:

A survey conducted by the Sibu United Chinese Associations (UCA) found that 87% of the 45 guild and association leaders indicated that the police have done a dismal job in combating crime. The association, with more than 90 affiliates, carried out the survey in late 2004 as it was concerned with the reported spate of crimes. The survey findings, which have not been released, were sent to the state leadership.
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The Sarawak police department will deploy Chinese cops especially Foochow-speaking ones to combat the gangsterism problem in the state. This was stated by Police Commissioner Datuk Talib Jamal after he witnessed the hand over of duties ceremony by State CID Deputy Commissioner of Police SACI Abdul Rahman Hussin to SACII Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah.

He explained Kuching and Sibu are more prone to gangsterism problems because historically gangsterism was brought into the State by immigrants as protection for themselves in a new environment.

Hissan is forty eight years old and hails from Georgetown, Penang. He has served with the force for 28 years. He has just completed his masters degree majoring on corruption from the Police College in Cheras. He has served at various CIDs all over Malaysia and his most recent posting was in the traffic division at Bukit Aman. The people of Sarawak welcome him and his future contributions to the state.

Top cop breaks his silence
Situation in Sarawak different now
Ex cop’s view

What happens when a relationship turns bad? For most of us, after a lot of hurting and self doubts, we all eventually move on.

It wasn’t so simple for a young lady in Kuching. She left a man for another. We do not know the story behind the incident but he was so incensed that he went to her quarters and beat the couple up. He he beat her up, stomped on her and ransacked her belongings and took it out to be burnt. The same man beat her boyfriend with a stone pestle repeatedly.

Was the man deceived in some way or other? There is bound to be police action. The attacker is known to the victim. Obviously, the man must feel justified to do what he did. He even had a friend accompany him.

Whatever the circumstances of the case, a crime has been committed. Was it a simple case of jealousy gone wild?

A boy learned too late the safest place for a teenager is almost always in the family home. Wan Mohamad Zulkarnain Wan Mohammad, 16, was asleep in the school hostel when he was awakened by pain.

He woke up to find his face had been splashed withacid. He was sent to hospital but will be scarred for life.

“I have no idea who would do this to me,” said Wan Mohamad Zulkarnain. His aunt, Maznah Talib, 50, who has been raising him, said the school had asked the family to keep the matter a secret.