KUALA LUMPUR: As the holy month of Ramadan came to a close on Saturday, Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak said his government was adding new measures to combat crime in the country. It is part of the overall effort to ensure that Malaysia remain a responsible country in creating a safe environment for all Malaysians, he said. It comes on the heels of a rising number of attacks against women at car parks in the country and worries that Malaysia is seeing an increase in crime. He also called for greater accountability, restructuring of organizations, modern equipment and relevant training in order to make Malaysia a safer country. “We want a Malaysia that is safe from internal and external threats, where neighbourhoods and its roads are free from crime and people feel peaceful and safe … a country that is best to raise Malaysian children," he said in his Eid el-Fitr message to mark the end of fasting. Razak said to ensure peace and harmony, all Malaysians must be united in being caring towards family, neighbors and friends. “We cannot be solely dependent on enforcement authorities to combat crime without playing any part ourselves. If we allow crime to happen without taking any action, it will affect the country's peace and safety," he said. In calling for the country to appreciate the peace and security, the PM asked Malaysians to change their attitude and have the right mindset, in addition to a more effective security infrastructure. The Prime Minister said Muslims in the country were lucky because they lived in a country that was consistently blessed with good fortune while other countries suffered from political strife and economic uncertainty. He said some nations in Asia and Africa, for example, were undergoing political upheaval and even developed countries in the European and American continents were facing chronic economic crisis. He argued that the results of these conflicts had led to rising unemployment, lack of jobs and low growth rates affecting the quality of life. “Amidst this, Malaysia is successful as a multi-racial country blessed with national unity. “We have a tradition of celebrating our diversity in religion, culture and races. The diversity in other countries is a cause of division but in our country, it is the catalyst for progress. “We are living in a country where peace and harmony are national realities," he added.
