logo
Tighten borders to curb violent crime, says Lee Lam Thye

Tighten borders to curb violent crime, says Lee Lam Thye

New Straits Times10 hours ago

KUALA LUMPUR: The relevant authorities should tighten border controls and take the necessary measures to address violent crimes in the country, said Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
He said this in response to two fatal shootings in the federal capital within just a few days, which left three people dead.
"While these are isolated incidents and do not reflect the overall safety of the city, they are nevertheless matters that require swift and coordinated action, as they highlight the issue of arms smuggling across Malaysia's borders.
"Obviously, no country in the world is completely free from crime, and Malaysia is no exception.
"As long as criminal tendencies exist among individuals, such problems will inevitably arise," he said in a statement.
Lee added that enhanced security measures are crucial to reducing gun violence and improving the safety and security of all Malaysians.
He proposed several initiatives, including the use of advanced surveillance technologies such as drones and thermal imaging to monitor illegal border activities.
"We should also strengthen collaboration with our northern neighbour to establish joint patrols and enhance information sharing.
"Existing laws related to arms smuggling must be reinforced, and penalties for offenders should be increased," he said, adding that loopholes that allow illegal arms trafficking must also be addressed.
Lee said the alliance plans to launch public awareness campaigns to educate communities and encourage the reporting of suspicious activities.
"A holistic, long-term strategy is essential to ensure the safety and security of all Malaysian citizens."

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

24 Evacuated From Iran Arrive Safely In Malaysia
24 Evacuated From Iran Arrive Safely In Malaysia

Barnama

time25 minutes ago

  • Barnama

24 Evacuated From Iran Arrive Safely In Malaysia

SEPANG, June 22 (Bernama) -- A total of 24 individuals, including 17 Malaysians, who were evacuated from Iran following escalating conflict in the country, have safely returned home. Malaysia Airlines flight MH781 carrying the evacuees landed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 at 11.03 pm. They were welcomed by the Foreign Ministry's Deputy Secretary-General (Bilateral Affairs), Datuk Ahmad Rozian Abd Ghani. The group comprised 17 Malaysians, six Iranian dependents of Malaysian citizens, and one Singaporean national. Malaysia's Ambassador to Iran, Khairi Omar, who led the group, told the media they had to travel by land for about 1,000 kilometres to exit Tehran. 'We chose a route away from the source of the attacks, which were coming from the west, so we headed east. Alhamdulillah, we received strong cooperation from the Turkmenistan government, which allowed foreign nationals to cross the border,' he said. He added that around 12 Malaysians were still in Iran and Wisma Putra was closely monitoring their situation to ensure their safety and well-being. According to a statement from Wisma Putra, all 24 individuals crossed the Iran–Turkmenistan border on June 21, 2025, and boarded a Turkmenistan Airlines flight T5 647 on June 22, 2025, to Bangkok, Thailand, before continuing their journey on Malaysia Airlines flight MH781 to Kuala Lumpur. The evacuation, coordinated by the Malaysian Embassy in Tehran, involved a 1,120-kilometre land journey to the Iran-Turkmenistan border. The Malaysian embassies in Ashgabat and Bangkok also facilitated flight arrangements from Ashgabat to Malaysia.

12 Malaysians still in Iran, Wisma Putra monitoring closely
12 Malaysians still in Iran, Wisma Putra monitoring closely

New Straits Times

time26 minutes ago

  • New Straits Times

12 Malaysians still in Iran, Wisma Putra monitoring closely

SEPANG: At least 12 Malaysians are still in Iran and are being closely monitored by Malaysian authorities following the successful evacuation of its citizens and their dependents over the weekend. Malaysian Ambassador to Iran Khairi Omar, who led the evacuation mission, said the remaining individuals include students and Malaysians married to Iranian nationals, currently residing in various parts of the country including Tehran and Shiraz. "We are keeping track of their whereabouts and ensuring they are safe. "Should the situation permit and they choose to leave, we will assist them," he said during a press conference at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) late Sunday night. Khairi had accompanied 24 evacuees, comprising 17 Malaysians, six Iranian dependents, and a Singaporean, who arrived safely in Kuala Lumpur after a gruelling 1,000km overland journey from Tehran to the Turkmenistan border. He said the group spent the night at the border before flying out of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan and transiting in Thailand en route to Malaysia. "We were on the road for over 24 hours. It was a long and challenging journey, but Alhamdulillah, everything went smoothly," he said. Khairi said they decided to use an eastern land route was made to avoid areas of conflict in the west, following heightened tensions due to Israeli strikes on Iranian targets. This, he said, as the evacuation involved multiple checkpoints and long delays due to the high number of foreign nationals also attempting to leave the country, but praised the cooperation from the Iranian and Turkmen authorities in facilitating the border crossing. He added that communication with Malaysians in Iran remained difficult, with roaming services restricted and messaging apps like WhatsApp heavily affected during the conflict. "We made do with old-school SMS messaging, which still worked locally. It wasn't easy, but we managed to stay in contact," he said. Reflecting on the initial days of the conflict, Khairi said the embassy had not anticipated the intensity or speed of the escalation. "Many were caught off guard. The nights were tense with retaliatory strikes, but during the day there seemed to be a pattern of restraint," he said. On Saturday, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan ordered the temporary closure of the Malaysian embassy in Iran, directing embassy staff in the country to return home immediately. Mohamad said that many other foreign missions have done the same following the latest developments in the Middle East involving Israel. The United States announced its entry into the Iran-Israel conflict earlier, stating that it has carried out attacks on three Iranian nuclear sites, including the underground uranium enrichment facility at Fordow.

Malaysian evacuees from Iran arrive safely at KLIA
Malaysian evacuees from Iran arrive safely at KLIA

New Straits Times

time41 minutes ago

  • New Straits Times

Malaysian evacuees from Iran arrive safely at KLIA

SEPANG: Twenty-four people, including 17 Malaysians, have safely arrived in the country following an evacuation operation coordinated by the government from Iran. The group, which also included six Iranian dependents of Malaysian citizens and a Singaporean, arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 11.03pm on Sunday aboard Malaysia Airlines flight MH781. The evacuees were greeted by their loved ones at the arrival hall, with smiles and sighs of relief as families reunited after their arduous journey across borders and multiple countries. Accompanying the group was Malaysian Ambassador to Iran, Khairi Omar, who was received at the airport by the Foreign Ministry's deputy secretary-general (bilateral affairs), Datuk Ahmad Rozian Abd Ghani. Wisma Putra, in a statement, said the evacuation involved a 1,120km overland journey from Tehran to the Iran–Turkmenistan border, which was completed on Saturday. "From there, the evacuees boarded a Turkmenistan Airlines flight the following day, transiting in Bangkok before flying into Malaysia. "The operation was spearheaded by the Malaysian Embassy in Tehran and supported by the Malaysian embassies in Ashgabat and Bangkok, which facilitated the subsequent flight arrangements," it said. Wisma Putra, on behalf of the government, also expressed its deepest appreciation and gratitude to the governments of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Turkmenistan and Thailand for their close cooperation, which enabled the smooth and safe repatriation of the evacuees. "In a show of regional solidarity, Malaysia also extended assistance to a Singaporean during the operation, while the Malaysian Embassy in Ashgabat had earlier helped arrange travel for Brunei citizens returning from Turkmenistan," it said. On Saturday, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan ordered the temporary closure of the Malaysian Embassy in Iran, directing embassy staff in the country to return home immediately. Mohamad said many other foreign missions had done the same following recent developments in the Middle East involving Israel. The United States had earlier announced its entry into the Iran-Israel conflict, stating that it had carried out attacks on three Iranian nuclear sites, including the underground uranium enrichment facility at Fordow. Now entering its second week, the conflict was sparked by Israel's 'preemptive' airstrikes on several strategic sites in Iran, including nuclear facilities, missile bases and military command centres, followed by retaliation from the Gulf state.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store