KUALA LUMPUR: The crime index rate for Malaysia has decreased between 4.2 per to 12.6 per cent from 2011 until 2015.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the number proved that prevention and eradication initiatives programmes organised by the police under its crime reduction programme has been a success.
However, he said the perception in crime reduction remains low.
“This may due to several factors which include a sense of prejudice towards the decline in the stated crime rate, and petty crimes that affects the public's perception towards it.
“To tackle this issue, police are giving their focus, aided by other enforcement agencies, towards ensuring this perception will change,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby here today.
Zahid, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said the Home Ministry has been given the responsibility of leading the National Key Result Areas (NKRA) to reduce crime in the country, to increase the sense of security, and to reduce fear of crime, thus enabling Malaysia to be among the countries that are safe for both tourism and foreign investment.
“For this purpose, the ministry is focusing on three main objectives; to achieve a sustained reduction in the crime index, the ministry will focus on snatch theft, robberies without firearms and unarmed gang robberies.
“These also include improving safety among the public by encouraging public participation in voluntary activities, and ensure excellence in matters of the criminal justice system to build public confidence by increasing the professionalism of police officers and expedite prosecution in court,” he said.
Zahid said the crime index statistics for six-year period from 2011 to 2016 consistently showed a significant reduction.
“In 2011, there were 166,295 cases and the number decreased to 153,669 cases in 2012, down by 12,626 cases or 7.5 per cent.
“In 2013, there were 147.062 cases recorded and it decreased to 6,607 cases or 4.2 per cent.
“Meanwhile, in 2014 there were 128,544 cases, 2015; 115.545 cases and for 2016, 103.346 cases up to November 2016.
“We expect the index crime statistics continue to decline until the end of 2016.”