IPOH: The government should enforce the laws without fear and favour while the judiciary must consider imposing deterrent punishments for serious law-breakers.
Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said policing the nation involves more than just men with gun and patrol cars.
"What we need is education, language skills, counseling and psychology, forensic medicine, communication technology, social science and last but not lease integrity.
"The authorities should find ways to tackle the root causes of crime including drug abuse, lack of parenting skills, online pornography and other social ills in the country," he said.
Lee was speaking at an MCPF dinner in Syuen Hotel here today.
Lee said a collaborative partnership between enforcement agencies, non-governmental organisations, community groups, business entities and individuals could also help solve crime and increase trust in the police.
"The MCPF has since its inception promoted the Safe City or rural initiatives as the best form of community policing.
"It is basically an MCPF idea designed to create a safe living environment, minimising the opportunities for crime to take place," he said.
He added that the initiative also requires a concerted effort and cooperation between all parties.
"This for instance include city planners and architects who design the environment, developers who build it, and government officials responsible for administrating the community and its residents.
"Under the concept of Crime Prevention through Environment Design or CPTED, proper design and effective use of physical environment can help reduce the incidence and fear of crime and improve the quality of life," he said.
Besides contributing towards crime prevention, Lee said the initiative also aimed at building strong neighborhood links and forge greater community cooperation which was essential in the country's multi-racial society.
"Working towards a common objective of building safer cities and neighbourhoods can also help strengthen interracial harmony so vital in our multiracial nation," he said.
Lee also reminded that crime needs to be tackled from various fronts, involving all parties including those in the education and judicial sectors, the government and parents.
While there should be continuous awareness programmes to educate youths on social ills, he said parents must never abdicate their responsibility in the upbringing of their children.
"Parents need to always think about their children, their safety outside their homes and schools," he said.
As Malaysia moves forward to be developed nation, Lee said the government-community partnership for crime prevention should be developed under a safe-city or safe-neighbourhood initiative.
"In the Malaysian context, it represents a partnership between the government and citizens to prevent crime through environmental design, community development and education.
"As a city of safe neighborhood literally means that it's free from crime and from fear of crime. This term was used in the safe-city initiatives that have been introduced in most developed countries," he added.