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Sunday, November 23, 2008, 01.05 AM

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PM: Family plays vital role in reducing crime rate

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"Every criminal is a member of a family. So it's important that we start with the family when we fight crime," said Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi.

Both families and the local community played an important role, together with the government and police, to check criminal activities in the country, said Abdullah.

"I am also a member of the community.

"I also worry about the criminal cases happening now," he said at the launch of the National Crime Prevention Month 2008 here yesterday.

He stressed that families should make sure their children did not get involved in gangs or resorted to bullying in school.

Abdullah also said poverty could make a person turn to crime, hence the government's determination to eradicate poverty by 2010.

"Although we don't have much time, we will make sure that hardcore poverty does not exist by 2010.

"We will try our best, even though time is short."

There is also the worry that poverty leads to a lack of education, which in turn leads to unemployment.

Despite efforts to ensure every child got to go to school until Form Five, there were still many teenagers who were not going to school for various reasons, said Abdullah.

"It is the nation's responsibility to help the poor and the lower income group because poverty in any form can be a threat to society."

As a move to contain poverty, the prime minister wanted businesses to hire local workers instead of foreigners.

He said skilled jobs that did not require too high a level of education should be offered to local youths and not immigrants, as work for young people would help reduce the crime rate.

"We still give jobs to immigrants, even illegals, because they are easier to exploit.

"Although we always hear people say that locals are too choosy when it comes to employment, those are just excuses from employers."

Abdullah also touched on the reluctance or fear of many people to cooperate in criminal investigations.

"This poses a real challenge for us."

A high crime rate causes a perception that the country is not safe, thereby affecting investment and economic opportunities.

"I have heard complaints from foreign investors and businessmen and they are afraid of the crimes reported in the newspapers.

"We do not want this perception."

Abdullah said each Aug 23 would be designated as a Crime Prevention Day from this year onwards.