God has established the authorities that exist...Rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong...For he (the ruler) is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’ servant, an agent of wrath, to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.” (Rom. 13:1a, 3a, 4).
I wonder why the Government takes so long to do right? Is it because they lack the political will or they think that some issues have priority over others?
Why do people, who have suffered loss and endured the pain of injuries and even death, have to wait so long for justice to roll before the Government acts to rid the scourge of snatch thieves?
Several years back, a friend’s mother had her handbag snatched and she was seriously injured. With the increasing incidence of victims, my wife and I started to escort her mother to the bank and to her doctor in one of the hottest snatch-theft prone areas in Petaling Jaya, even though the clinic was a few feet away. My son also reported that two of his schoolmates were waylaid just outside their school recently.
One church member was robbed at knifepoint while entering the church premises while another member’s mother was robbed just outside their home. Sad stories of snatch theft victims who died or had gone into coma abound. And the list of victims is growing.
“Perkara biasa” is what you will hear from the police station personnel. Sometimes they would even scold you for letting your aged family member go out alone to the shops.
Police authorities have said they do not have the manpower to do crime prevention rounds. It is assumed that they have been asking the Government for increased funding but this appeal for more funds to do good police work seems tohave fallen on deaf ears.
Perhaps they will now get more funds with the rising tide of moral outrage against snatch thieves and motorbike robbers. We hear that there will be increased deployment of police personnel such as the FRU and GOF (formerly PFF) units in hot-spot areas.
Some people have become so frustrated with the whole situation that they are going beyond voicing their anger at the Government’s inaction. There have been public demonstrations on this issue. Some have resorted to vigilante action and this may mean that they may face charges of assault, grievous hurt and even murder.
Manuals on effecting citizen arrest are being disseminated. Awareness is being heightened and ‘good Samaritans’ helping victims are being highlighted in our newspapers.
What about us, ordinary citizens? What can we do to fight the menace? Here are some suggestions:
- Write to your MP about this outrage so that the issue is aired and addressed in Parliament.
- Call for the use of security alternatives such as CCTVs in areas prone to snatch thieves.
- Support the Government in re-writing laws with sentences that befit the seriousness of the crime.
- Call the police if and when you see suspicious people loitering in your area.
- Be alert of motorcycles and cars coming from behind you.
- Start self-defence classes for church members and the community.
- Organise personal safety and security classes.
- Above all, pray, and do not cease praying.
We must not allow the petty criminals to get off easily. By focusing on their eradication, these petty criminals (whose crimes are nevertheless mammoth because of the potential serious harm on their victims) will not be able to go on to bigger and more serious criminal activity.
We must seriously desire to rid our streets of this menace. New York’s crime rate fell when its mayor changed the way New Yorkers looked at petty crimes. By bringing the petty criminals to book, major crimes fell as well.
We need a Government established by God to take up the issue of doing right. The Government is an institution given the authority to do right for its people. We need a Government to deliver justice to those who have been victimised by snatch thieves and robbers.
Let not the deaths of snatch theft victims be in vain. We owe it to their loved ones and to their memories to do the right thing. Rouse us then, O Lord, from our stupor. – By Tan Kong Beng
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Tan Kong Beng is Dean of English Department at Malaysia Bible Seminari.He is also a member of the NECF Malaysia Research Commission.
He grew up in Petaling Jaya and now lives in Subang Jaya. He was mugged at knifepoint when he was 18. This article was first published in the iComment column of the Graduates Christian Fellowship newsletter dated June 22. |
