BUDGET A total of RM3.7 billion will be provided to increase the...

BUDGET A total of RM3.7 billion will be provided to increase the efficiency of the security force, including providing modern and sophisticated equipment.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said RM1 billion would be provided to further improve the services of the police next year to achieve the government's objective of reducing crime, which is one of the National Key Results Area.

"The government targets to reduce the crime index by 5 per cent, including reducing street crimes, such as snatch thefts and robberies by 20 per cent by the end of 2010," he said when tabling the 2010 Budget in parliament Friday.

He said that among the measures taken was to provide mobile police stations in 50 crime hot spots.

Attention to nation's borders

The government would also train and enhance the efficiency of 3,000 members of the Rela voluntary corps and Civil Defence Department to conduct joint patrol with the police.

Najib said the security of the nation's borders would be given serious attention by providing RM1.9 billion to the armed forces for equipment as well as to build and upgrade sentry posts.

In addition, he said, RM600 million would be allocated to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency to ensure that the national waters were free from smuggling activities, encroachment and pirate threats.