KOTA KINABALU: Installation of closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV) at strategic locations in the state capital is not a ‘miracle pill’ to achieve zero crime rate, said Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah.
He said CCTVs would not eradicate criminal activities completely, as they could only capture crime scenes and criminals always had a way to get around that.
For instance, banks have their own CCTVs but criminals would don helmets when they rob a bank so that their facial features could not be captured, he said after attending a charity bazaar here on Tuesday.
Yong, who is responsible for the City Hall, said however CCTVs could at least deter part of the criminal activities, but more importantly, the public should be aware of crime prevention.
He was commenting on the recent carjacking cases, including the abduction of three-year-old Low Min You, who is still missing, after his father’s car was driven away by some unknown individual(s) at a petrol kiosk here last week.
Yong admitted that the recent cases have indeed shed a negative light on the relevant authority.
Nevertheless, he said, City Hall would be installing CCTVs at 25 areas in the state capital, adding that the Federal Ministry of Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government had appointed a contractor to set up the CCTVs.
He said the relevant authorities, including the police and City Hall officials, have identified the locations to install the CCTVs.
“We understand that 25 CCTVs are insufficient, thus City Hall will apply for more from the Ministry of Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government. We hope to have at least 200 CCTVs installed in the state capital,” he said.
On the other hand, Yong hoped the private sector would also install their own CCTVs for their own protection and to assist the relevant authorities.