The meaning of safety in Malaysia’s community development programmes: A case study of KRT Taman Putera Jaya, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Understanding the real meaning of safety for a community does contribute to the formulation of crime prevention strategies. In Malaysia a local community’s understanding and interpretation of their sense of safety may prompt them to participate actively in voluntary organisations and create thereby a culture of empowerment. This study focused on the construction of a Sabahan community’s meaning of safety based on their world view. Primary data were gathered from in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with 10 informants of the Taman Putera Jaya neighbourhood safety area (KRT), Kota Kinabalu. The findings revealed that the community’s meaning or sense of safety entailed not only the external and physical but also psychological and emotional aspects which in turn were influenced by their locality and culture.