Beat bases without cops won't scare anyone

I live in Kluang. I notice that police tents are being erected at strategic street corners of the town.

I presume these will serve as police beat bases. But though the tents were put up quite some time ago, I have yet to see any policemen on duty at these tent bases, which are equipped with 2 chairs and a table.

There have been several break-ins and snatch thefts recently, which is probably why these beat bases have been set up. But now, I am wondering why we have such facilities without policemen on duty inside.

In the old days, farmers rigged up scarecrows in rice fields to frighten the birds away. I doubt that the police can frighten away the bad hats by putting up beat bases that are left unmanned.

Posted on New Straits Times, on December, 22nd 2008