Managing the crime space: A review of Malaysian crime reduction policies

Criminal behaviour is a symptom of deap-seated social problems plaguing many cities in the world. That it is rising despite persistent countering efforts generates both concern and fear on the parts of government and the society at large. This paper takes a closer look at the Malaysian government efforts in reducing crime rates in the country by reviewing the state’s crime reduction policies from the time of the establishment of the Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) in 1993 until the formation of the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) which with its ruling principle of ‘People First, Performance Now’ has become a benchmark of the current National Key Result Area (NKRA). The findings revealed that not only the government crime prevention policies have been effective in reducing crime rates in the country but that they have also enhanced the nation’s international image as one of the most safe and peaceful places in the world.