KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 (Bernama) -- The Home Ministry is expected to channel support in the form of grants, equipment and assistance for the Volunteer Patrol Scheme (VPS), to effectively combat crime in residential areas.
Deputy Home Minister Jelaing Mersat said the initiative shows the seriousness and support of the government to set up VPS as an effort to combat crime in housing estates.
"The ministry has plans to provide aid for the VPS to attract participation from the public so as to assist the police in combating crime at about 50 crime hotspots throughout the country.
"I will table this to the relevant authorities and the ministries involved so that help can be channeled for the scheme," he told reporters after attending a dialogue session on strengthening crime prevention at the Ampang Jaya police headquarters here on Wednesday.
Jelaing said VPS has proven its effectiveness in curbing criminal activities like house break-ins and robberies as well as enhancing unity and brotherhood among the people.
Since VPS was introduced in Ampang Jaya, crime rate in the area had reduced significantly from 7,663 in 2008 to 7,574 last year, he said.
"Through the people and volunteers' cooperation with the police, we were able to reduce crime rate in the area by 1.16 per cent," he said.
He added that during the dialogue, residents had requested for cabins to be placed at strategic locations with patrolling equipments like bicycles at the respective VPS that were formed since 2008.
A resident from Taman Putra, Azlina Siwok, 42, said criminal activities on roads at housing estates can be reduced through the presence of VPS.
"However, lack of communication among residents, continues to be detrimental to such programmes. So, we suggest a special policy to be introduced so that residents can offer their cooperation and support for the scheme because they will be the ones who will benefit at the end of the day," he said.
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