KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's crime index between 2009 and 2019 has shown a downward trend, with an average of 11,000 fewer cases each consecutive year.
Statistics revealed by Bukit Aman today showed that the number of serious crimes nationwide dropped gradually from 212,678 cases in 2009, to 83,475 cases in 2019.
Property crimes comprised the majority of serious crimes for the period, making up 1.2 million cases or 81 per cent of the national crime index.
Federal Criminal Investigations Department director Commissioner Datuk Huzir Mohamed today revealed that a total of 1,493,614 cases were investigated by the department in the period.
He said for property crimes, 170,313 cases were recorded in 2009, which fell to 67,105 cases in 2019; and violent crime fell from 42,365 cases to 16,170 cases.
He said violent crimes include murder, rape, kidnapping, armed robbery, gang robbery and voluntarily causing hurt with or without a weapon.
"The significant decline in crime cases in the country is due to continuous hard and stern action taken over the years, through various police deterrence and prevention initiatives such as the use of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) and Prevention of Crime Act (Poca).
"If you look at the statistics and crime cases trend, between 2011 and 2013, you will notice a slightly higher number of cases recorded in these few years. These were the years where the government decided to do away with detention under the Emergency Ordinance, Restricted Residence Order and even the ISA.
"Subsequently, this caused a slight surge of up to 16,000 cases for these three years as there were no proper laws to keep criminals in check.
"Then in 2014, we introduced Sosma and Poca, which helped to lower the crime rate once again," he told reporters in a press conference at Bukit Aman today.
On property crime, for the last 11 years, Huzir said 43 per cent (or 641,981) of cases involved vehicle theft.
"Motorcycle theft topped the list of vehicle theft, with 446,446 cases in total for the given period. When you do the math, that's about 115 motorcycle stolen every day.
"However, the latest figures show that motorcycle theft has fallen to 19,000 cases in 2019," Huzir said.
He added that the decline in cases has also helped insurance companies save almost RM20 million in payouts over the years.
"The high number of motorcycle thefts is due to several factors, including a market for spare parts where those involved would cannibalise the motorcycles and sell the parts to buyers at a cheaper price."
Huzir also revealed that there were 183 cases of armed robberies at banks and jewellery shops, among other premises, in 2009 – but last year, there were only 26 armed robberies at these places.
He added that police had successfully crippled many organised crime syndicates, adding that 281 criminals were killed in police shootouts and 2,222 firearms were seized over the period of 11 years.