photo: Mr Lee Mook Kwai, father of Lee Kean Yip (deceased) (right) sharing his idea of setting up a website to gather information on crime cases to counter the statistics of the police.

It was quite a good discussion. I could feel the anger of the individuals who stood up and asked question during the "Fight Crime and Fear Crime Forum.

The PM always says that the people needs to co-operate with the police to fight crime, indicating that the unsafe environment was partly due to us, the people. However, after hearing the views, concerns and experiences of some who stood up to speak at the forum, I would like to tell our PM this;

Dear Pak Lah, when some of your citizens, especially women, at this moment who are so fearful of even leaving the home and go to the street, don't you think that you as the Prime Minister and the Minister of Internal Security has failed in leading the police force in co-operating with the people to fight crime and not otherwise?

This morning, when I walked into the coffee shop to have breakfast with my mother, a woman walked to me and shared with me of her experiences of getting the police to take action against a group of young men who would sniff glue at the playground in front of her house every night from 8-9 pm. She told me that she has lodged many police reports. She called the police many times to visit the playground whenever this group of young men were "high" after sniffing glue and started shouting.

The action of the police dissappointed her. She said the police on many accasion turned up but only asked the group to disperse. But then, the group would come back later and the following days.

She also said she meant higher ranking officer but was told that they could not do anything because glue sniffing is not an offence. She asked me, it is so? She also said that many residents were trying to move out of that residential areas because they were worried of the safety of their family members and children.

She asked a good question. She said that the police always give the standard statement ie not enough manpower whenever the public complain about unsafe environment. She has this to reply. She said, "I do pay taxes and why can't the government use those money to employ more police officers to improve public safety".

Pak Lah, please ACT immediately to improve the current unsafe environment before more lifes are taken away.

Some of the Victims. How do we stop it? If the father of Lee Kean Yip (deceased) could come out to the forefront and speak about the need to improve public safety so that the said incident which happened to his family would not occur in our family or to our loved ones, we should grab this chance to join forces with him. This period of time is most difficult for Mr Lee and his family yet he thinks about our safety and the society. It is an act of a victim’s family fighting back.

We can be angry because we are not provided the very basic - safe environment. But, what is the point of just being angry? Let us put our forces together- People’s Power. Your attendance and participation in the discussion on 17.8.2006 at 7.30pm - Hotel Excelsior Ipoh would be a step towards improving public safety.

This is an invitation by Lee Mook Kwai, the father of Lee Kean Yip (deceased). As such, I will be grateful if you can pass this invitation to your friends too.
—————————————————————————————————————————————
11th August 2006

Dear Friends,

Re: A Meeting to Discuss the Lack of Public Safety and Measures to Overcome the Problem

In late May 2006, our son Lee Kean Yip left to further his studies at Kolej Tunku Abdul Rahman (KTAR), Kuala Lumpur.

He was staying at the TAR Villa, Wangsa Maju. Our son left the residence to go out to buy food. On his way back he was attacked by two men or more and was killed in the incident. Our son’s death is a great loss to all of us.

Words cannot describe the way we feel after the unnecessary death of our son.

Life has to go on. We, after discussion with many individuals and organizations feel that a meeting should be held to discuss and find ways so that what happen to my son should never be allowed to happen to others.

Our local Member of Parliament for Ipoh Barat, YB M. Kula and YB Fong Po Kuan, MP for Batu Gajah have agreed to assist my family to co-organize this discussion.

Thus, we are proposing that a meeting be held on 17th August, 2006 (Thursday) at Hotel Excelsior Ipoh at 7.30 pm and hope your organization could send representatives for the meeting.

Kindly call Mr Tham at 017-502 4873 to confirm your attendance. Thank you.

Yours truly,

Lee Mook Kwai