JOHOR BARU • Johor police chief Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd has given the thumbs-up to the state's Men In Black (MIB), a select team of police officers who patrol the streets.

He said that since the MIB started their patrols two months ago, they have received positive feedback from the public and contributed to a fall in the crime rate. For the first six months of the year, the southern Malaysian state recorded a 6 per cent decrease in crime against the corresponding period last year.

Datuk Wan Ahmad said the MIB would continue to patrol places of interest throughout the state. "I am very happy that the MIB have achieved their targets and that their presence gives the public confidence in the force," he told reporters on Monday.

He added that more than 1,000 officers were picked from across the state for the MIB. They work in shifts with their main patrol areas being business centres and places of high interest, such as shopping malls. "We will continue with the MIB programme as it is working really well," he said.

The MIB also patrol high-security areas such as Senai International Airport, ferry terminals, the Causeway and Second Link.

Besides stopping criminals, they also keep a lookout for possible terror activities.

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK