KAMPONG KEMBANGAN CONSTITUENCY (State of crime)

Encik Mansor Haji Sukaimi asked the Minister for Home Affairs what is the state of crime in the Kampong Kembangan Constituency, and what measures will be taken to reduce the crime rate in the Constituency.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, 104 criminal cases were reported in the Kampong Kembangan Constituency in 1979; 15 more than in 1978. Housebreaking offences increased markedly, from 16 cases in 1978 to 38 in 1979. Thefts of motor vehicles, bicycles and vehicle parts increased from 24 cases in 1978 to 37 in 1979. However, there was a big drop in robbery cases, from 13 in 1978 to two in 1979. Other thefts decreased from 31 cases in 1978 to 22 in 1979.

Most of the premises which were broken into were shophouses and factories. The Crime Prevention Officer from Joo Chiat Police Station visited these types of premises and advised the owners and occupants on anti-burglary measures. In addition, police officers from the Station joined the members of the Kampong Kembangan CCC on their house-to-house visits to give advice on crime prevention. Two crime prevention exhibitions were held in the Constituency in 1978 and 1979.

The Kampong Kembangan Constituency has been and will continue to be patrolled by Team Policing cars from the Joo Chiat Police Station and patrol-cars from the Radio Division. The Station will monitor closely the crime situation in the Constituency. When necessary, uniformed or plainclothes officers from the Police Reserve Units and the Station's Task Forces comprising Police National Servicemen will be deployed to intensify patrolling.

Encik Mansor Haji Sukaimi (Kampong Kembangan): Mr Speaker, Sir, I understand that the number of drug cases has dropped considerably but there has been a rise in petty theft and robbery, including house-breaking. Does the Minister see any correlation, or does he not see that the persons who are alleged to have committed these petty offences and housebreaking are also drug addicts?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, the correlation is a bit tenuous. Not all house-breakers or petty thieves are drug addicts. But a certain percentage of them, about 5% or 10%. are drug addicts.

Encik Mansor Haji Sukaimi: Sir, are the Police aware that cases of snatch theft and molestation have occurred in dark places in certain parts of the Kampong Kembangan Constituency? If this is verified, would the Minister ask the Police to step up their surveillance and also arrest the culprits, because this is a major complaint from my constituents?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, I have answered the question about snatch thefts. With regard to outrage of modesty and related cases, may I tell the Member that in 1979 there was only one case of outrage of modesty and another case of indecent exposure. For the case of outrage of modesty, a resident of the constituency was arrested.