Crime Prevention Campaign organised by Yeo Hiap Seng

Over the weekend I represented the Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) to launch a crime prevention campaign involving a private company Yeo Hiap Seng (M) Berhad which volunteered to help fight crime as its corporate social responsibility.

Under the tagline “Stay Safe with Yeo’s”, the company which produces a wide range of Asian drink beverages, joined the fight against crime by encouraging the members of the public to join Rakan Cop by printing on the packaging Rakan Cop’s designated 13 hotline members throughout the country.

It marks a very positive contribution by a company producing consumer product to come forward in a very meaningful endeavour.

At a time when the entire nation is concerned about crime, any effort by anyone to help create greater crime prevention awareness will be most meaningful. It is hoped the Yeo’s effort will be emulated by other organisations.

We need greater participation by all levels of our community to develop an anti-crime culture and make safety a way of life.

Unless one is determined to have an anti-crime culture and make safety a way of life, the fight against crime will not be effective and enduring.

As crimes continue to occur, more so, in view of the economic downtown and given the fact that the law enforcement alone is inadequate to tackle crime, governments everywhere will have to promulgate effective social policies and programmes to prevent and control criminal activities.

However, governments also need other stakeholders such as the traders, residents, professionals and the public to assist them to combat crime.

Hence, policymakers, academicians and the various strata of society need to stand up to this challenge and make their cities, towns and villages safe and liveable for everyone.

In this connection, continuous efforts must be made to reduce crime, lessen the fear of crime and create safer cities and towns where economic enterprises and community alike can flourish.

This agenda to control and prevent crime demands a synergistic, concerted and tireless endeavour from everyone. Everyone has a role to play in the fight against crime.

The public must be made aware of the fact that crime prevention is a collective responsibility. Since its inception, MCPF is actively involved in awareness campaigns with various community based organizations to help create greater awareness about the need not to take their safety for granted but on the contrary to participate actively in crime prevention.

Through our safe city initiative projects, MCPF hopes to enlist the participation of all levels of our community in educating the public about what they should do in crime prevention.