Home Ministry statistics show decline in serious crimes since 2008
Since 2008, Malaysia's overall crime rate has decreased, contradicting Putrajaya's claim that rising violent crimes justified its amendments to the Prevention of Crime Act (PCA) which provides for detention without trial.
According to statistics furnished by Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to Er Teck Hwa (DAP - Bakri), the number of crime cases for 2008, including violent and crimes on property, stood at 211,645.
As of September this year, the number plunged to 111,020 cases.
Violent crimes include murder, rape, gang-related crime and armed robbery, while property crimes include housebreaking, snatch theft, vehicle theft and burglary.
Violent crimes plunged from 37,817 cases in 2008 to 22,357 cases as of September this year.
In the same period, property crimes decreased from 173,828 to 88,663 cases.
Johor, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor recorded the highest crime rate during the same period, but the number progressively decreased over the same period. The three states recorded 26,624, 22,050 and 57,752 cases respectively in 2008.
As of September this year, these figures reduced to 13,170, 16,784 and 32,348.
The PCA amendments were passed early this month despite protests from the Opposition and civil society.
The amendments include detention without trial, restrictions on judial reviews, secrecy provisions and recital of Article 149 in the preamble, which the Opposition claimed was against basic human rights stated in the Federal Constitution.
Opposition lawmakers pointed out that the changes were similar to the repealed Internal Security Act (ISA) which allowed for detention without trial.
Ahmad Zahid however denied that the new law would use detention without trial, saying appeals can be made by detainees at the High Court.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid also told Liew Chin Tong (DAP - Kluang) that 90 out of the 125 recommendations by the report on the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Police have been implemented.
Another 26 recommendations are in the process of implementation, one under study and eight rejected.
"Among the reasons why some of the proposals cannot be implemented was due to secrecy and security aspects, as well as high cost and overlapping of existing Acts and regulation," said Ahmad Zahid in his written reply.
Liew blasted the ministry and called for a white paper to be submitted to Parliament on the recommendations outlined in the report.
"Eight years after the report was tabled in 2005, the government has never gave a detailed answer on the recommendations contained in the report," he said. - October 29, 2013.
