SIBU: The state police are roping in housewives in Taman Kemuyang here as members of Amanita or ‘peace-loving women’ in crime preventive efforts.
Sarawak Police Commissioner CP Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri said that the adoption of park programme aims to increase the involvement of police officers closer to the residents of residential areas as well as to communicate with housewives in an effort to prevent crime.
“Amanita officers will hold collaboration between policewomen and housewives to be more focused and organised.
“Apart from interacting with housewives to get information related to crime, the creation of this amanita adoption park is as well as to make the residential area a safer place,” he said when officiating at the opening ceremony of Amanita Sarawak Contingent Taman Kemuyang yesterday.
Azman noted that the cooperation is expected to help the police in terms of providing information related to crime and immoral activities.
“Especially once they find that suspicious things are happening in the surrounding area, they can contact directly and report to the police immediately.
“Admittedly, housewives are the right people to pass on information to the police because they are always at home and know the development of neighbourhood.
“So, they have the right to be mandated to jointly prevent local crime by reporting to the police,” he said.
Azman also said that the selection criteria for the foster care centre are based on the crime index and drug problem in addition to the good cooperation given to the police over the years.
“Although the criteria are still under control in Taman Kemuyang, the selection of this park as an amanita adoption park is to be used as an initial platform so that the residents are always vigilant and help the police in any surrounding problems to establish close cooperation in helping to prevent crime.
“It is understood that Taman Kemuyang is a residential area for residents from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Ulu Oya, Kemuyang housing phase 1 and phase 2, Nanga Bon longhouse and new Kemuyang settlement (new Nangka town) involving approximately 1,000 housing units with an expected population of approximately 5,000 people.
He also emphasised that the implementation of this foster care programme, indirectly encourages cooperation with housewives, especially through the presence of members of the women’s peace squad (amanita) to curb crime.
“It has been seen to have a positive impact when successfully reducing the crime rate in an area with the concept of applying the patrol rate as well as cooperation with the residents.
“The Sarawak contingent’s amanita adoption ceremony which was launched is expected to produce a housewife who is capable of sponsor personal safety, family, and property, recognise and reporting suspicious activities and criminal incidents that occur.
“As well as able to take care of the security of the neighbour’s property around the home and cooperate with the police to identify criminal activities that often occur in their area,” he said.
He hopes that the programme will give confidence to the public and the community towards PDRM in combating criminal activities through initiatives such as amanita.
“With the existence of amanita in this housing estate and the involvement of housewives, husbands who go out to work will also feel safer,” he said.
Also present were Sarawak Deputy Commissioner of Police, Datuk Mancha Ata, Sibu district police chief ACP Zulkipli Suhaili, chairman of Juma’ani Welfare Complex Tuanku Haji Bujang, Sibu, Datuk Mohamad Yusnar Matalie and others.
