This year, there was a significant number of murder cases involving young victims.
There were also corruption investigations against high-profile people, including a former prime minister and a seizure of a prominent tower in the federal capital.
Police and the Customs Department initiated several drug busts in which arrests involved high-ranking policemen and deputy public prosecutors.
The following is a roundup of the biggest crime stories for 2023:
MURDER OF YOUNG VICTIMS
Two young lives were lost in murder cases which caught the nation's attention in the last month of the year.
Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin, a 6-year-old autistic child who went missing as he and his mother were about to reach their flat unit in Damansara Damai, Petaling Jaya, on Dec 5, was found dead in a river 200m from the house the next day.
A post-mortem revealed strangulation as the cause of death. Extensive investigative measures, including DNA samples, dashcam recordings, forensic revisits and canine assistance, have yet to yield any lead. Interpol has also been engaged to aid in the murder investigation.
On Dec 15, Muhammad Zaharif Affendi Muhd Zamrie, 17, who was riding a motorcycle home from school, was allegedly crashed into by a vehicle driven by a police officer.
The incident in Ipoh unfolded when the police officer, Mohd Nazri Abdul Razak, pursued Zaharif after he revved his motorcycle. The pursuit, spanning nearly a kilometre, tragically ended when the police vehicle collided with the motorcycle along Jalan Taman Jati, resulting in Zaharif's death.
The senior police officer with the rank of deputy superintendent was charged in the Ipoh magistrate's court on Dec 18 for the murder of the teen.
CRIME INVOLVING A JUVENILE
On Oct 22, a fatal crash occurred in Kuala Kedah involving a car driven by a 14-year-old
girl.
The accident claimed the life of a motorcyclist and left the pillion rider with serious injuries.
The school dropout had lost control of the car in the rain, and collided with the victims' motorcycle, which was travelling in the opposite direction.
MAJOR DRUG BUSTS IN KELANTAN, SABAH AND KLIA
The Kelantan police made their largest seizure of syabu in March when they recovered RM28.6 million of the drugs.
Two separate operations in Pasir Mas and Kuala Krai from March 6 to 7 led to the discovery of 495kg and 300kg of syabu, respectively. The modus operandi involved smuggling the drugs using courier service packaging.
Kelantan police also seized nearly RM18 million worth of syabu in Tanah Merah during an operation in Jalan Wan Ahmad, Kota Baru, on March 21. The drugs discovered in 13 gunny sacks weighed 499kg
The news of Customs Department officers seizing 807.9kg of fentanyl worth RM44.4 million at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport Air Cargo Complex on Dec 9 grabbed headlines.
This marked the first such seizure involving the drug, which is 100 times more potent than morphine.
Preliminary investigations traced the drugs back to the Mumbai International Airport, and the consignment was believed to be en route to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
Meanwhile, Sabah's most significant drug ring was dismantled with the arrest of a "Datuk", a patron of a non-governmental organisation, this month.
The arrest, which is a part of a joint operation between Bukit Aman Narcotics Department and the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) on Tuesday, saw 10 syndicate members, including the Datuk, being taken into custody.
ILHAM TOWER SEIZED, FORMER PM AND BUSINESSMAN PROBED BY MACC
Ilham Tower, a commercial property owned by the family of former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin, was seized by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) this month.
The seizure notice of the 60-storey building, estimated to be worth up to RM2 billion, was made via a notice issued to the Lands and Mines Office of the Federal Territories dated Dec 18, which was also published as advertisements in local newspapers on Dec 21.
The seizure resulted from Daim's alleged non-compliance with MACC petitions regarding the disclosure of his family's financial holdings.
The investigation centred on a corporate transaction worth RM2.3 billion in November 1997, involving Renong Bhd and United Engineers Malaysia Bhd, both associated with Umno.
In a separate case on June 17, MACC initiated an investigation into the awarding of a RM214.2 million fibre optic contract linked to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The investigation focused on a letter from Telekom Malaysia Bhd requesting direct negotiations with Opcom Sdn Bhd, a company associated with Dr Mahathir's family.
Another notable corruption case this year involved Malik Stream Corporation, owned by Datuk Abdul Malik Dasthigeer, who is known for organising Tamil concerts.
He was detained and the company's premises was raided by MACC on July 25. The operation, involving multiple agencies, resulted in the seizure of more than RM38 million in cash, 200kg of gold and 17 luxury cars. Abdul Malik Dasthigeer was remanded for a day before being released.
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT CLAIM, SHOCKING GANG RAPE CASE
A plethora of sexual crimes grabbed headlines this year.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director-general Maritime Admiral Datuk Hamid Mohd Amin was probed on Nov 21 over a sexual harassment complaint by a 39-year-old financial consultant.
The investigation, conducted by Bukit Aman's Classified Crime Investigation Unit, involved claims of alleged inappropriate remarks, as well as lewd messages and videos.
A separate case involving gang rape in Gerik, Perak, on Nov 22 also shocked the nation.
Seven men, including six siblings, were arrested for allegedly raping a girl, 11, in Kampung Pahat Luar, Gerik.
The incident, witnessed by the girl's brother, aged 9, occurred on Nov 3, with suspects aged between 13 and 31.
On Sep 21, police confirmed an investigation into preacher Ebit Irawan Ibrahim Lew, or Ebit Lew, over the alleged rape of Indonesian influencer Mondy Tattoo.
The case was investigated under Section 376 of the Penal Code for rape.
Police had said that they recorded statements from 10 people, including the victim herself, Ebit and rapper-turned-social media influencer, Ariz Ramli, or Caprice.
COPS, DPPS AT CENTRE OF MAJOR DRUG BUSTS
Fifteen policemen and two deputy public prosecutors were arrested in a raid on an entertainment outlet in Seremban, Negri Sembilan, by the Integrity and Standards Compliance Department from Bukit Aman on Aug 19.
The policemen, including a senior inspector and two DPPs, tested positive for drugs.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay had said 14 of the policemen were suspended, while the 15th policeman who did not test positive for drugs was released but questioned about his presence at the nightspot.
On Oct 30, four police officers from the Kota Baru district police escort unit were arrested on suspicion of distributing ketum juice and tobacco leaves in the court lock-up.
Officers from the Bukit Aman Integrity and Standards Compliance Department apprehended them around 8.30am.
Sources said four bottles of ketum juice and some tobacco leaves were also seized during the arrest.