Kamal Effendi Hashim, an expert in criminology, did not mince his words when referring to those who have been carrying out crime prevention campaigns.

"The way they do things do not apply in the real world," he decried.

Kamal, who studied criminology in the United Kingdom, said these well-meaning individuals should step down and give way to more qualified people, who have the experience and expertise to fight crime.

Fresh from a month-long solo crime prevention campaign in Sabah and Sarawak, Kamal (right) was baffled by what he saw on the ground.

"The situation in Sabah and Sarawak is much better than the Semenanjung. People are more receptive to crime prevention ideas, especially in rural areas. They are not afraid to ask question when we go them.

"Crime prevention bodies must stop giving lip services to fighting crime. The real problem has very little to do with enforcement of the laws, but prevention.

"Pamphlets and educational kits should be handed out in villages, bus stops, longhouses. It is unfair to blame Sabah and Sarawak for the number of natives addicted to drugs when no real effort is being made to fight the problem," he lamented.

To add insult to injury, Kamal said most of crime awareness campaigns are only conducted through high-profile events in major towns rather than directly reaching the targeted group in the rural areas.

"There is a lack of crime prevention campaigns in rural villages. The National Drug Agency and Pemadam should review their educational programmes."

Kamal was commenting on the big jump in the number of natives abusing drugs in Sabah and Sarawak.

From January to May this year, 1,869 natives of Sabah and Sarawak have been found to be drug addicts, a 780-percent jump from the 239 cases recorded during the corresponding period last year.

This was revealed by anti-drug abuse NGO Pemadam's vice-president, Lee Lam Thye, in a seminar held in Bintulu recently.

Kamal said that most urban natives hailed from the hinterland, and the anti-drug message must get to them before they migrant to towns.

Politicians slammed

Kamal, who was overwhelmed by the response given by corporate sectors in his solo expedition to spread the message on crime prevention, is however saddened by lack of support from politicians.

"My solo campaign is self-funded by seven years of personal savings. I'm also very lucky to have Naza Kia, FTL Logistic, Merdeka Palace (Kuching) and Sutera Harbour (Kota Kinabalu) coming in to help.

"It really broke my heart that none of the YBs (Yang Berhormat) have come forward. Surprisingly, the Tuai Rumah (longhouse chiefs) can call me. Don't tell me that these people (the politicians) don't read the papers," he added.

Kamal intends to provide unfiltered information from his nationwide campaign to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi so that the real issue can be addressed effectively.

"The mechanism of crime prevention is not working at a level it should be. In Malaysia, until the prime minister says something, it will not be recognised as a problem.

"And the worst is that we are not doing justice to the innocent people who died because of crime," he said.

Being a recognised crime specialist and a member of international crime prevention associations, Kamal has been regularly sought after by government agencies. He has a TV programme to educate public on crime prevention.

"I have a segment in TV3 and had conducted some 600 seminars to date," he explained.

Asked what prompted him to declare war on crime, the former policeman and photojournalist said his eyes were opened by what he had witnessed while serving the force.

"I saw the real thing and I have to do something to stop the senseless deaths," he said.

Though a member of Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation, Kamal said he no longer wants to be associated with the foundation.

"I have been warned by influential people not to disassociate myself and not to do crime prevention alone, but my agenda is to prevent crime," he said.

"Some people are using crime prevention as a way to sought popularity by offering lip services to the problem."

JIMMY TEOH is malaysiakini's Sarawak-based stringer