Calling for Nur Jazlan to “buck up”, the Puchong MP said the deputy minister’s comment that there were “faulty closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in police stations due to budget constraints”, reflected the failure of the government.
“It is yet another embarrassing example of the utter failure on the part of the Najib administration to deliver on pledges made to resolve issues of public importance,” he said, adding that there should be more urgency in dealing with the problem.
Gobind, who is DAP national legal bureau chairman, also chided Nur Jazlan for giving such a response saying if budget constraints are the reason, then it makes a mockery of Prime Minister Najib Razak’s claim that the country is in a solid financial state.
The issue of faulty CCTVs at police stations came to light recently after a police officer was found dead at a community police station in USJ on Aug 31 with a gunshot wound to his back.
The victim, a 29-year-old lance corporal, was said to have been alone at the station at the time.
It was later revealed that none of the CCTV cameras installed in the station were working, hence the police had to rely on footage from cameras located outside nearby premises to help out in their investigations.
Nur Jazlan was quoted by Malay Mail as saying that even with CCTVs installed at all police stations, it was a different issue if they were working or not.
“The finance ministry had cut the budget on procurement, and part of that budget was set aside for the maintenance of the cameras.
“However, with the growing number of police stations, the budget allocated for this purpose is not in tandem and therefore, it has become insufficient,” he was quoted as saying by the daily.
Gobind said the reason for having CCTVs in police stations had long been addressed and the assurances were also given by the home ministry that the CCTVs would be put in place.
“Most of the time, there are problems because there are different versions given of events which take place in police stations.
“As such, CCTVs would not only greatly assist when it came to probing such complaints, it would also deter any such incidents from occurring as the would be assailants would be less likely to act if they knew they were being watched,” Gobind said.
He added that Nur Jazlan should also appreciate the pain and frustration on the part of those who claim to be victims of incidents in police stations and the difficulties they face.
“He should also recognise the value these cameras have for officers who have been wrongly accused.”
Gobind urged Nur Jazlan to press hard for funds in the upcoming budget session to ensure this problem is solved, warning he will be raising the issue in the Dewan Rakyat at the next parliament sitting next month.