MP’s mom robbed at home, joins list of high-profile crimes

JULY 11, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 — The mother of a Penang federal lawmaker was robbed at knifepoint in a pre-dawn home invasion in George Town this morning, The Star reported on its website today.

According to the newspaper, Fatimah Ahmad — the mother of Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff — was awoken by an armed burglar demanding cash and valuables from her.

The 73-year-old woman, who was alone in the home at the time, was also reportedly hit in the face during the incident, in which she reported losses amounting to RM3,000.

Fatimah later made a police report at 6.30am.

Today’s robbery joins a recent high-profile crime cases that has struck fear into the hearts of Malaysians, including a break-in at the home of former Malacca Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik in Kuala Lumpur; an ATM robbery in Carrefour, Wangsa Maju that saw about RM1.2 million in cash carted away; and the recent carjacking and kidnapping of a Singaporean family in Johor.

These were preceded by the kidnapping of a 12-year-old Dutch schoolboy in Mont Kiara, and a vicious robbery-and-assault on a schoolteacher that required the victim to be put into an induced coma due to the severity of her wounds.

Yesterday, three men attempted to break into the home of Research for Social Advancement (Refsa) researcher Ong Kian Ming in broad daylight. They left after threatening the scholar, who was home at the time.

The authorities have sought to play down citizens’ concerns over crime, saying crime rate statistics do not support the perception.

The government’s Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) also came out to blame the media for “sensationalising” crime.

“They should work closely with the police on communicating the cases that they have successfully solved. Sometimes, we need to arrest the doom and gloom by also focusing on the positives,” Pemandu chief Datuk Seri Idris Jala was quoted as saying in an interview.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein previously described the high-profile incidents as “isolated”.

Opposition leaders have criticised the government for seeking to brush aside growing fears about the crime rate, adding that police should concentrate on tackling the issue instead of “spying” on ordinary citizens.