Police target dark, abandoned and neglected spots in nationwide crime drive, starting with Penang

The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) is launching the "Whitening The Black Spot" initiative to enhance safety in high-crime areas across Malaysia, starting with Penang.

This month-long pilot phase involves collaboration with various agencies and communities to address crime through a comprehensive strategy focusing on patrols, environmental design, and social intervention.

The initiative's goals include transforming unsafe spaces, reducing crime opportunities, and fostering safer neighborhoods through a community-centered approach.

A key aspect of this initiative is the involvement of 41 departments and agencies under a Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society approach to create a safer environment across targeted areas in Penang.

BUTTERWORTH, Sept 27 — The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) will expand its Whitening The Black Spot initiative nationwide in stages, beginning with Penang, said Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail.

“We are doing it contingent by contingent through engagements and town halls in each district. We will work with all agencies, the community, NGOs and local leadership to resolve issues,” he told reporters after the initiative’s Penang Contingent launch at the PICCA@Arena Butterworth Convention Centre.

Also present were Bukit Aman Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department director Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin, Penang police chief Datuk Dennis Lim Kwang Keng and Mohd Khalid’s wife Puan Sri Munirah Che Rose.

Mohd Khalid said the Penang phase will run for a month before being expanded to black spots in other states battling high crime rates or pressing security issues.

He emphasised that the initiative is a comprehensive preventive approach covering patrols, focused operations, CCTV system improvements, gotong-royong, community programmes, safety education and social intervention.

He added that 41 departments and agencies have been mobilised through an integrated Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society approach to create a safer environment in Penang.

“It emphasises the principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), such as lighting, cleanliness, maintenance, environmental design and public facilities, to close off spaces and opportunities for crime,” he said.

Mohd Khalid said the pilot locations are Bukit Jambul, Sungai Nibong, Kampung Ujong Batu, Permatang Pauh, Sungai Rambai, Pondok Upeh and Bukit Panchor.

“We need to see whether crime rates drop, whether the areas become more orderly, whether the police presence is increasingly felt and whether the community truly feels safer. Real success is change that can be seen, felt and believed in by the whole community,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lim said Whitening the Blackspot will target areas deemed unsafe, high-risk and uncomfortable, such as dark, dirty spots, abandoned buildings and poorly maintained recreational areas.

He said the three main goals are to transform blackspots into safer spaces, cut crime opportunities in hotspots, and build more harmonious, safe neighbourhoods.

“For example, an abandoned village building may have become a haunt for drug addicts, or a park may have unkempt play areas with no lighting, broken benches and dark, dirty spots. We want to turn these into clean, well-lit spaces the community can use safely,” he said.

Lim said district police chiefs across five Penang districts have proposed 38 programmes under the initiative: six in Northeast Penang, eight in Southwest Penang, six in North Seberang Perai, 13 in Central Seberang Perai and five in South Seberang Perai.

The four objectives to be met within a month are improving crime prevention, strengthening cross-agency cooperation, transforming high-risk areas into safe spaces, and empowering community involvement.

“PDRM cannot succeed alone. To make this project work, we need local communities, federal and state agencies, elected representatives, local authorities, the private sector and NGOs. Everyone must play their part, because safety is a shared responsibility,” he said. — Bernama

* Editor’s note: PDRM is the Malay abbreviation for Polis Diraja Malaysia.

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马来西亚皇家警察（PDRM）正在发起“消除黑点”计划，以加强马来西亚各地高犯罪率地区的安全，该计划首先从槟城开始。

为期一个月的试点阶段涉及与各个机构和社区合作，通过以巡逻、环境设计和社会干预为重点的综合战略来解决犯罪问题。

该计划的目标包括通过以社区为中心的方式，改造不安全空间，减少犯罪机会，并营造更安全的社区。

这项举措的一个关键方面是，41 个部门和机构参与其中，采取全政府、全社会的方式，在槟城的特定区域创造一个更安全的环境。

北海，9月27日讯——马来西亚皇家警察总长丹斯里莫哈末·哈立德·伊斯梅尔表示，马来西亚皇家警察将分阶段在全国范围内推广“消除黑点”计划，首先从槟城开始。

“我们正在通过与各区代表的沟通和市政厅会议，逐个解决问题。我们将与所有机构、社区、非政府组织和地方领导人合作，共同解决问题。”他在槟城代表团于北海会展中心举行的 PICCA@Arena 会展中心启动仪式后告诉记者。

出席者包括武吉阿曼预防罪案及社区安全局局长拿督诺希山诺丁、槟城警察局长拿督丹尼斯林光庆和莫哈末卡立的妻子潘斯里穆尼拉切罗斯。

莫哈末·哈立德表示，槟城阶段将持续一个月，之后将扩展到其他州犯罪率高或安全问题严重的地区。

他强调，该举措是一项全面的预防性措施，涵盖巡逻、重点行动、闭路电视系统改进、互助劳动、社区项目、安全教育和社会干预。

他还补充说，政府已采取全政府、全社会的综合方法，调动了 41 个部门和机构，以在槟城创造一个更安全的环境。

他说：“它强调了通过环境设计预防犯罪（CPTED）的原则，例如照明、清洁、维护、环境设计和公共设施，以减少犯罪的空间和机会。”

莫哈末卡立表示，试点地点包括Bukit Jambul、Sungai Nibong、Kampung Ujong Batu、Permatang Pauh、Sungai Rambai、Pondok Upeh 和 Bukit Panchor。

“我们需要观察犯罪率是否下降，社区秩序是否改善，警力部署是否日益增强，以及社区是否真正感到更安全。真正的成功是整个社区都能看到、感受到并相信的改变，”他说道。

与此同时，林表示，“消除黑点”计划将针对被认为不安全、高风险和令人不适的地区，例如黑暗、肮脏的地点、废弃的建筑物和维护不善的休闲区。

他表示，三大主要目标是将治安混乱地区改造为更安全的空间，减少热点地区的犯罪机会，并建设更加和谐、安全的社区。

“例如，一座废弃的村庄建筑可能成了吸毒者的聚集地，或者一个公园的游乐区可能年久失修，没有照明，长椅破损，到处都是阴暗肮脏的地方。我们希望把这些地方改造成干净明亮、社区居民可以安全使用的空间，”他说。

林先生表示，槟城五个地区的警区主任已根据该计划提出了 38 个方案：东北槟城 6 个，西南槟城 8 个，北海北部 6 个，中部北海 13 个，南海南部 5 个。

一个月内要实现的四个目标是：改善犯罪预防、加强跨部门合作、将高风险地区转变为安全空间、增强社区参与能力。

“马来西亚皇家警察无法独自完成这项计划。为了使这个项目成功，我们需要当地社区、联邦和州政府机构、民选代表、地方当局、私营部门和非政府组织的参与。每个人都必须尽自己的一份力，因为安全是每个人的责任。”他说道。——马新社

* 编者注：PDRM 是 Polis Diraja Malaysia 的马来语缩写。

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