Kota Kinabalu: The overall crime rate in Kota Kinabalu decreased by nearly 20 per cent following the Chinese New Year celebration, said City Police Chief ACP Kasim Muda.
He said the trend is an encouraging sign that current crime prevention measures and community cooperation are producing results.
“This improvement is not solely due to police enforcement but also the strong collaboration between the police and local community,” he told reporters after the Kasih Ramadan Bubur Lambuk programme, here, Tuesday.
Kasim said such cooperation helps authorities monitor suspicious activities more effectively and respond faster to potential criminal incidents, and expressed gratitude to the public for their continued support and responsible actions.
The Kasih Ramadan Bubur Lambuk programme saw the distribution of 500 portions of bubur lambuk to various government agencies and members of the local community, organised by the Sabah Contingent Police Headquarters (IPD), together with Persatuan Keluarga Polis (Perkep) Sabah and Aman Wanita (Amanita), supported by Adabi Sdn Bhd.
“Additionally, Zirbat Resources Sdh Bhd also contributed to the initiative by providing 150 food packs for frontline workers, as well as 50 distributed to asnaf,” said Kasim.
He added that the programme reiterates the commitment of the police to strengthen relationships with the community through initiatives that go beyond the traditional role of maintaining law and order, reinforcing the idea that effective policing also involves community engagement, compassion and cooperation.
He hoped the programme will continue to be organised annually to strengthen cooperation among the police, government agencies, private companies as well as the community.
Meanwhile, Kasim announced that Hari Raya operational duties will begin from March 18 to 25, and encouraged members of the public who plan to return to their hometowns to notify the nearest police station about their absence from their homes.
“They can either go to the station in person, or notify the police through the Volunteer Smartphone Patrol (VSP) application online,” he said, noting that this initiative will help the police monitor residential areas and enhance security while residents are away.
Kasim also acknowledged the recent issues with traffic congestion, noting that the increase is likely due to preparations for the coming Hari Raya celebrations.
“We are closely monitoring traffic conditions and urge the public to cooperate in maintaining smooth traffic flow. Motorists are advised to avoid double parking, and to avoid parking their vehicles in prohibited zones,” he said.
He stressed that the police will not hesitate to take enforcement action if traffic rules are violated, which includes issuing traffic summonses and taking appropriate action against drivers who park illegally.
