Johoreans have yet to feel assured that crime in their state would be curbed despite a Cabinet approved boost of additional police personnel, said Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang.

He said the level of crime, punctuated by a series of rapes and highway robberies these past few weeks, could only be reduced if the government declared Johor Bahru a "crime hot spot"

The police must produce daily reports on its anti-crime efforts if it is to be taken seriously, he said.

"I think the people are very disappointed. There's nothing new. What has been announced by Najib has been announced by (Health Minister and MCA vice-president) Dr Chua Soi Lek two nights ago," Lim told a press conference at Parliament lobby today. Chua is Johor MCA chairperson.

Deputy Premier Najib Tun Razak announced yesterday that the Cabinet has approved 400 additional policemen to be deployed in Johor Bahru.

The Cabinet has also approved three new temporary district police headquarters and 200 police vehicles to patrol the capital.

"There are no assurances that the people of Johor Bahru can immediately begin to feel safe today. It is not there is not a police force. The police force that exists now should immediately make a difference in people's lives," he said.

He said the government should immediately declare Johor Bahru a "crime hot spot" and that the police must publish daily reports on the effort to curb crime in the capital.

"They should come up with an action plan involving the (non-government organisation) NGOs, the police and citizenry. We do not want promises of action to come. The government has made it too many times.

"The prime minister has declared in January 2004 to wipe out crime. He repeated his declaration in April this year. I think the people are tired of these empty assurances by the PM.

Spate of rapes, robberies

Early this month, a teenage girl was raped by three men, while her boyfriend was forced to watch. The following day, a couple was taken on a terror ride, before a group of men raped the 35-year-old woman, after which her friend was slashed.

Last night, two schoolgirls were reported to be raped in separated incidents. One girl was raped by four men and while another by a bogus police officer.

"Last night's rape victims involved a Chinese girl and a Malay girl. Anyone can be a victim. It is no longer a race problem. The whole country is worried, but the only place they are not talking about crime is Parliament."

Lim also expressed disappointment that his motion to debate the rising crime in Johor was rejected by Parliament Speaker today.

"The first motion to debate corruption at the top level was rejected. The second motion on human trafficking was rejected. But how can this motion on crime an issue of concern to Malaysians be rejected?

"What is the use of Parliament if it has proved itself to be utterly irrelevant. I am ashamed as a member of Parliament," he said.

Three hundred police personnel from the General Operations Force (GOF) and another 100 from the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) will be sent in the next few days, announced IGP Musa Hassan yesterday.

The personnel will be in Johor until 400 new officers and academy graduates are sent to the state, he said. In addition, 11 new police stations are expected to be set up soon.