More clout for cops to fight crime

SHOOTING CASES: Government to look into laws to give police extra powers, says Najib

(NST) – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has vowed to provide the police more authority to fight serious crime, including  extra powers under existing laws.

He said his administration was looking into the matter, even more so after a series of shooting cases that had hit the nation.

“We (the government) have instructed the police to investigate these shooting cases thoroughly, and measures are being taken to tighten security at all entry points into the country.

“We will also look into laws to allow the police to be given more authority to handle such cases without any room for abuse,” he told TV3 at the Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house at Seri Perdana on Thursday.

The spate of shootings continued yesterday, with a man firing warning shots at a bus driver for overtaking a four-wheel-drive he was travelling in near Sagindai, Ranau on Friday. A soldier was also shot along the Malaysia-Thai border early yesterday.

There were four shootings in Perak and Penang over the last two days. Penang alone saw three incidents, leaving one dead and one wounded on Thursday and early Friday.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the victims of the recent spate of shootings around the country were all targeted and not randomly chosen.

He said the increase in firearms in the nation might be because of some weak points along the country’s borders.

Khalid said the force had formed a task force to work on all the shooting cases, adding that he believed that most of the cases could be solved soon.