Ahmad Zahid: Steady drop in crime index since 2008

KUALA LUMPUR: The overall crime index has steadily dropped from 211,645 cases in 2008 to 153,669 cases in 2012.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said 111,020 cases were reported up to September this year.

The index, which includes violent and property crimes, spiked to 212,678 cases in 2009, then dropped to 186,162 in 2010 and 166,295 in 2011.

In a written response to Er Teck Hwa (DAP-Bakri), Ahmad Zahid said violent crimes were listed as murder, rape, gang-related crime and armed robbery, while property crimes included housebreaking, snatch theft, vehicle theft and burglary.

He noted that violent crimes dropped to 22,357 cases till September this year compared to 37,817 cases in 2008. In the same period, property crimes plunged to 88,663 cases from 173,828.

He said Johor, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor recorded the highest crime rate, though the numbers have been reducing (from 26,624, 22,050 and 57,752 cases respectively in 2008 to 13,170, 16,784 and 32,348 cases respectively as of September 2013.)

On narcotics, Ahmad Zahid said 857,252 people were caught for various offences between 2008 and September 2013.

In a written response to Liew Chin Tong (DAP - Kluang), Ahmad Zahid said 90 of the 125 recommendations by a 2005 report on the Royal Commission to enhance the operation and management of police had been implemented.

Twenty-six recommendations are in the process of implementation, one under study and eight rejected.

"Among the reasons why some of the recommendations were rejected are secrecy and security aspects, high cost and overlapping of existing Acts and laws," he said.

In a press statement, Liew demanded a white paper be submitted to Parliament on the recommendations outlined in the report.