MIRI, MALAYSIA

Monday, August 9, 2010

The mayor of Miri has assured Bruneians that the city is safe to visit, despite news reports of the city’s crimes against tourists.

Lawrence Lai (picture) said: “We have been working hard on this area, and I think Bruneians should really come down and take a look instead of just believing in what the media reports.”

“Sometimes, to attract readers, the papers need to sensationalise their stories, and it created an impression that Miri is not safe,” he said in an interview.

The mayor said that Miri is working hard on making itself a tourist city, and safety is one of the main priorities of the Miri City Council.

“When I took office, we set up a committee to look into the safety issues of Miri. The committee is headed by our deputy mayor, and he is working very closely with the police,” Lai said.

He said that based on statistics from the police, crimes have been decreasing steadily. “I am sure Bruneians can see it for themselves when they come over.”

The mayor further said that the city is planning to install CCTV cameras in various parts of the city to further enhance security, and they are in the process of getting budget approval for the video cameras, which can help police track movement of people in a crime scene.

According to the information provided by the council’s Public Relations Department, the new Miri customs in the Sungai Tujoh area across the Brunei border will have a new shopping area.

“The new building is called the Immigration Custom Integrated Quarantine (ICIQ), and from what we know, there will be a shopping area as well,” said Tay Boon Pang, the Miri City Council’s public relations officer. — Chua Guan Cheong

The Brunei Times

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