PUTRAJAYA: Urban folk need to work together to tackle crime instead of leaving it solely to the police, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

He said issues such as cleanliness and neighbourhood safety should not be left to the authorities alone.

Residents committees, he added, could be trailblazers for this urban social transformation as 70% of the people are urbanites.

Najib also said the committees, also known as JPPs, would create a stronger bond among neighbours and foster the spirit of sharing responsibilities.

“We must play our role to maintain our homes and areas. For matters related to crime, we cannot leave it to the police alone.

“During my visit to Japan recently, I noticed that the Japanese put a lot of effort into ensuring that even the roads in front of their houses are clean.

“They don’t wait for the local authorities to clean it,” he said when launching the JPP here yesterday.

During the tabling of Budget 2014, Najib announced the setting up of residents committees as a new way to improve the Government’s delivery service.

A total of 2,288 JPPs under 98 local councils and municipalities have been set up in the peninsula except for Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Putrajaya Corporation and Labuan Corporation, which already have similar bodies known as Urban Wellbeing Representative Councils.

Local authorities in Sabah and Sarawak had rejected the setting up of the committees.

Najib added that the number of people living in urban areas was expected to reach 80% of the total population by 2020.

“We cannot avoid this trend as urban areas have very strong pull factors.

“With more people, the expectations are also high, even if it is just about clearing clogged drains and garbage,” he said.

Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said the committees were expected to hold six meetings per year with their local authorities.

He said that should give them enough opportunities to relay issues directly to the authorities and find solutions.-thestar