Malaysia’s crime rate up 11% in 2024

PUTRAJAYA – Malaysia’s crime rate rose by 11.1 per cent in 2024, with 58,255 cases reported compared with 52,444 in 2023, largely driven by property-related offences and assault crimes.

According to the latest crime statistics released by the Statistics Department (DOSM), property crimes remained the most prevalent, surging 12.4 per cent to 47,188 cases, while assault crimes also registered an increase of 5.9 per cent, reaching 11,067 cases.

“Despite the overall rise, the report recorded a positive development in homicide cases, with intentional homicides declining by 9.5 per cent to 237 cases, while non-intentional homicides remained unchanged at two cases.

“Kidnapping incidents also showed a slight reduction, with 17 cases reported in 2024, of which children accounted for 11 cases,” said a DOSM statement, Bernama reported.

It said sexual crimes presented a mixed picture.

Rape cases increased by 12.1 per cent to 1,899. Rape without force increased by 29.3 per cent, while rape with force declined by 15.3 per cent, suggesting shifts in reporting or perpetration patterns.

DOSM said robberies saw a notable 6.8 per cent decrease, totalling 4,276 cases, with most involving robbery of individuals (41.7 per cent), followed by other forms of robbery (38.2 per cent), incidents targeting establishments or institutions (13.5 per cent) and vehicle-related robberies (6.7 per cent).

Meanwhile, house break-ins and theft cases also fell slightly by 1.8 per cent, with 77.6 per cent of these offences occurring at night.

DOSM said drug-related cases involving drug supply and possession continued to climb. There was a 10.6 per cent increase, bringing the total to 81,090 cases.

“Drug supply cases rose by 4.6 per cent, while possession cases jumped by 12.7 per cent, reflecting intensified enforcement and possibly increased substance use,” it said.

DOSM said arrests for bribery cases involving giving and accepting bribes surged by 24.6 per cent. A total of 764 individuals were apprehended.

“(Cases of) giving bribes rose sharply by 51.2 per cent, while (cases of) accepting bribes increased by 20.3 per cent, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat graft,” it added.

DOSM said the number of economic crimes also increased. There were 2,243 cases of misappropriation of controlled goods – a 19.1 per cent rise from the previous year. Diesel was the most commonly misappropriated commodity at 30 per cent, followed by petrol (26.7 per cent), cooking oil (19.8 per cent), sugar (10.1 per cent), liquefied petroleum gas (9.1 per cent) and wheat flour (4.45 per cent).

Offences relating to health and safety at work saw the steepest rise, increasing by 71.1 per cent to 296 cases.

The manufacturing sector accounted for over half of these offences (57.4 per cent), followed by construction (27.4 per cent) and business services (8.1 per cent).

Animal-related crimes remained minimal, dropping to 12 cases involving cruelty and welfare violations. Sea robberies continued to be rare, with no cases reported in 2024 and a single incident in 2023.

DOSM said correctional statistics reflected significant changes. The number of convicted prisoners increased by 28.4 per cent to 128,916 individuals, with males making up the overwhelming majority at 90.9 per cent.

The statistics do not include scams, where 47,854 cases involving total losses of RM1.919 billion (S$589 million) were recorded as at September 2025, Bernama reported. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK