Rape cases in Malaysia are rising, with 1,507 reported cases in the first six months of this year.
For the whole of last year, there were 2,435 cases and, compared with with the figure from 2000 to last year, the rape cases have more than doubled, according to a report in The Straits Times today. More than 90 per cent of the rape cases reported this year were solved.
This worrying trend follows a surge in violent offences, and could reflect an increased willingness by the victims to report the crimes, said the report.
Police figures show there were 23,202 violent crime cases in the first six months of the year, almost 10 per cent more than half the figure for the whole of last year.
Malaysian police are beefing up efforts to fight the crime, and these inlcude a community policing scheme, which was launched in 2004 and has scored some success.
"It has proved to be very, very effective, a lot of criminals were arrested through it,' a senior official with the Internal Security Ministry told The Straits Times.
He added that it is difficult to say "categorically and scientifically if there is a rise in violent crimes because perhaps many cases tended to go unreported in the past."
Former policeman turned crime analyst Kamal Affandi Hashim agreed that higher crime data does not necessarily mean things have become worse.
He attributed the rising crime trend to higher public awareness and willingness to report crimes, and more media coverage.
Ms Ivy Josiah, executive director of the non-government Women's Aid Organisation, which helps female victims of abuse and violent crime, also suggested the figures could signal improved confidence in the system, leading to more reporting of crimes.
"It is premature to say Malaysians are getting more violent," she said.
However, some Malaysians are concerned about the situation.
Latest findings by independent polling organisation Merdeka Centre show rising crime is the second most important issue to Malaysians, after the economy.
Professor Khoo Kay Kim, a commissioner with Malaysia's Human Rights Commission, said the current crime situation is "frightening".
He also blamed television and the Internet for the rise in violent crimes.
