KLANG: Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said Klang was not another Colombia despite a surge in robberies and other violent crimes reported in the royal township.
"This is Klang, Bandar Diraja… not Colombia," he said, referring to references that both places were infested with crime.
"We are aware that several portals had reported on this issue after a video of a robbery on a real estate agent went viral, where the portals used headlines like Klang bandar di Colombia in reporting news," he said.
Razarudin said a number of operations were conducted in Klang between Jan 15 and Feb 1, focusing on drug-related issues, the smuggling of migrants and criminal activities.
This statement follows media outlets quoting Klang as 'Colombia' last week, triggered by a surge in incidents of robbery, car break-ins and extortion.
Clearing the air of Klang having the highest crime rate this year, Razarudin said Gombak was the highest, followed by Kajang and Petaling Jaya.
"Last year, Gombak, Kajang and Petaling Jaya were higher than south and north Klang," he told reporters after a walkabout in Pasar Pandamaran here today.
Razarudin said Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain was quoted saying 'Klang has been likened to a city like Colombia' during a town hall session at the Hokkein Association building on Jan 30.
"He was merely quoting what the media had reported. He never said that Klang was like a city in Colombia.
"We want to clear the air, Klang is a Bandar di-Raja and not 'Columbia'.
"What is crucial is that we want to dispel the perception and assumption that Klang is akin to Colombia," he said, adding that this stigma and perception of Klang being a city comparable to Colombia must disappear.