Build a truly safe community to raise country's peace index rating, says Lam Thye

KUALA LUMPUR: Building a truly safe community is the key to improving the nation's Global Peace Index (GPI) ranking, says Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

While welcoming Malaysia's latest 10th-place GPI ranking, the Alliance for a Safe Community chairman said more could be done to improve it.

"All parties and stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs and the public, must work together towards developing a truly safe community.

"All law enforcement agencies should also be beefed up to achieve the goal of a safe community," he said when contacted on Sunday (July 7).

He was commenting on the country climbing to number 10 in this year's GPI from the 19th spot last year.

The GPI involves 163 countries worldwide constituting 99.7% of the world's population and is produced by global think tank the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP).

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Lee said laws should be implemented transparently, fairly and quickly as well as without fear or favour for a truly safe community to become a reality.

"All Malaysians should also work towards unity in diversity, not division.

"Another factor (that could contribute to a safe community) could be revitalising the nation's economy," he said.

Improvement in the GPI ranking will not only improve investor confidence and promote tourism, but also raise the quality of life for all Malaysians, he said.

"We can and must do better for the country in the years to come," he said.

On Saturday (July 6), Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the ministry aimed to improve Malaysia’s ranking further.

“It is important, as investors want to see how peaceful a country is before investing. While many parties contribute towards the country’s rank in the GPI, the police are the main law enforcement agency.

“The ranking is a testament to the hard work of the police in maintaining peace and public order in the country. We hope to maintain our top 10 ranking or improve upon it further,” he had said.

Saifuddin said the police have to scrutinise indicators that factor in the ranking.

According to the IEP, global peacefulness declined by 0.56% this year, marking the fifth consecutive year of deterioration.