A recent survey by Ipsos, one of the world's largest market research companies, has found that most Malaysians feel increasingly secure, with a decreasing perception of rising crime rates.

In its latest Malaysian Crime Monitor, published on 12 July, Ipsos examined Malaysians' perceptions of crime and law enforcement, comparing the data with those from Southeast Asian peers, namely Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand.

Key Findings from the Survey

Perception of Crime:

• Only 18% of Malaysians believe crime has increased in their neighborhood over the past 12 months, which is 5% lower than in 2023.
• This figure is significantly lower than the 31% average recorded from the overall study of 31 countries.
• Additionally, 18% of Malaysians believe that crime has decreased, 50% think it has remained the same, and 14% are unsure.

Causes of Crime and Corruption:

• A majority, 57% of Malaysians, attribute the primary causes of crime and corruption to poverty and unemployment.
• 50% believe ineffective law enforcement is a major factor, 42% cite drug and alcohol abuse, 39% point to a corrupt political environment, 28% blame a breakdown of traditional values, and another 28% cite lack of education.

Trust in Law Enforcement:

• The Ipsos study reveals increasing trust in the country's law enforcement authorities.
• 66% of Malaysians are confident that law enforcement treats all citizens equally, 8% higher than the 31-country average.
• 65% are confident that law enforcement will correctly identify and arrest criminals, 9% higher than the 31-country average.
• 65% also believe that law enforcement will prevent non-violent crimes such as burglaries, thefts, or fraud (12% higher than the 31-country average) and violent crimes (14% higher than the 31-country average).

The study is based on interviews with 24,801 online adults under the age of 75 across 33 countries, including over 500 respondents in Malaysia. The survey was conducted from 22 March to 5 April 2024.