THE crime index ratio per 100,000 population in Malaysia improved to 256.6 in 2019 compared to 273.5 in 2018, said chief statistician Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin today.

Seven states recorded a crime index ratio below the national average in 2019, namely Sarawak (214.6), Perlis (207.5), Perak (195.8), Pahang (195.7), Kelantan (188.2), Terengganu (150.3) and Sabah (143.5).

“The crime index ratio for all states declined except for Penang (+3.7%), Sarawak (+4.2%) and Terengganu (+1.3%),” he said in a statement in conjunction with the release of Crime Statistics 2020.

The report presents the figures for the crime categories of drugs, corruption, environment, maritime and correctional.

The numbers are based on the administrative records of various agencies and compiled in compliance with  c 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.

Uzir said compared to the year before, rape and assault increased 5.5% and 2.9%, respectively, while robbery and murder dropped 5.3% and 4%, respectively, in 2019.

The number of drug addicts arrested declined in Kelantan, Pahang, Negri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur and Perlis, Kedah saw the most drug addict arrests at 3,582, followed by Kelantan (2,998) and Penang (2,893).

Uzir said Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) made 23.2% more arrests in 2019, with bribery accounting for 79% of the cases and false claims, 35.8%.

Arrests for abuse of position and other offences declined at the rate of 24.7% and 9.8%, respectively, he said.

Uzir said the highest number of arrests reported by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency were violations of the Fisheries Act 1985 (603), followed by Ithe mmigration Act 1959/63 (167), Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 (132) and Sabah Ports and Harbour Enactment 2002 (94).

In 2019, he said the number of minors involved in crime decreased by 8.7% to 4,833 from 5,294 in 2018, while the number of boys involved in crime also decreased by 9.2% while girls kept the record of the previous year at 290 cases.

The majority of those involved in crime are men, who were drug addicts (95.7%), who practised corruption (82.9%), boys involved in crime (94%) and convicts (89.5%), he said. – Bernama, November 20, 2020.