PUTRAJAYA – The crime index ratio per 100,000 people in Malaysia improved to 256.6 last year compared with 273.5 in 2018, said chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin today.
Seven states recorded a crime index ratio below the national level last year, namely Sarawak (214.6), Perlis (207.5), Perak (195.8), Pahang (195.7), Kelantan (188.2), Terengganu (150.3) and Sabah (143.5), he said.
"The crime index ratio for all states declined, except in Penang (3.7%), Sarawak (4.2%) and Terengganu (1.3%)," he said in a statement in conjunction with the Crime Statistics, Malaysia 2020 publication.
The report statistics on six categories, namely crime index, drugs, corruption, environment, maritime crime and correctional.
The data is based on administrative records obtained from various agencies, with its compilation based on the concepts and guidelines of the International Classification of Crime for Statistical Purpose Version 1.0 manual published by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Uzir said rape and causing injury increased 5.5% and 2.9% respectively last year, compared with the previous year, while robbery and murder decreased 5.3% and 4.0%.
Last year, the number of drug addicts arrested decreased in five states, namely Kelantan, Pahang, Negri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur and Perlis, while the highest number of drug addicts arrested was recorded in Kedah (3,582) followed by Kelantan (2,998) and Penang (2,893).
Uzir said the number Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) arrests increased by 23.2% last year, contributed by giving bribery (79.0%) and false claims (35.8%).
Arrests for misuse of position and other offences declined 24.7% and 9.8% respectively, he said.
Uzir said the highest number of arrests by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency related to the Fisheries Act 1985 (603 cases) followed by Immigration Act 1959/63 (167), Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 (132) and Sabah Ports and Harbour Enactment 2002 (94).
He said the number of children under 18 years involved in crime decreased by 8.7% to 4,833 cases from 5,294 cases in 2018, while the number of boys involved in crime also decreased by 9.2% while girls remained the same as in the previous year with 290 cases.
The majority of criminals are men, with the proportion of them arrested over drug offences (95.7%), corruption offences (82.9%), youth involved in crime (94.0%), with the proportion of male prisoners being 89.5%, he said. – Bernama, November 20, 2020
