Crime Rate in Malaysia

            In any country, crime is much a nuisance. Besides endangering public security and peace, crimes also caused millions from the government’s treasury to fund investigations, trials and maintaining prisons. Speaking about crime rate in Malaysia, the numbers are getting bigger and bigger. With rapid increment in population, more and more criminals are born. There are about 161 prisoners per 100 000 people in Malaysia; a number which keeps hiking. Why is this happening?

 

            Studies have shown that economic growth and greater affluence have produced more crime. Rapid economic expansion causes an influx of illegal immigrants in this country causing 20% of the total crime committed. Although it is true that the other 80% of total crime was committed by locals, but comparing the population of locals and immigrants, isn’t that 20% is too big for about 4 millions immigrants? Poverty index and inflation are also rising enormously due to increase in domestic oil price. As a result, the gap between the rich and the poor has turned bigger thus contributing to higher crime rate.

 

            Unemployment is another caused yet to be neutralized. Some researches indicated close relationship between unemployment and crime. For those who are unemployed and severely in need of hard cash, there is an indisputable inclination to take up crime as their alternative job. This tendency has been observed for several years now and sadly, the trend shows worrying increase. Following the current graph, adding increase of population as another variable, the future shows small hope to reduce unemployment and that means smaller hope to reduce crime rate.

 

Parental neglect is perhaps the most significant cause of this problem. As more parents are busy working, less love and affection are given to youngsters nowadays. Without parental guidance, they are easy baits for manipulation and negative influence. To boost their self esteem, teenagers are compelled to take on ‘small crime’ such as cheating in examination, shop lifting, stealing and etc. Later on, these small crimes might evolve into violent crimes such as raping, kidnapping and murder.

 

 In the end, we know that this problem in on the rise. We also know that it starts from the basic family problem. So, parents need to adhere to this problem and spend more time with their children, give them appropriate guidance and affection to save them from deprivation of the most needed thing-love. Applying this we have already solved 90% of future crimes. The rest lays on the effectiveness of the police force and the government to curb crime in this country-just another 10% of it.