Study: Malaysians Have Increasing Trust for Law Enforcement, 66% Believe PDRM Treats Everyone Equally

A recent survey by Ipsos, 1 of the world’s largest market research companies found that most Malaysians have a growing sense of security, with a declining perception of the rising crime rate.

In its latest Malaysian Crime Monitor published on 12 July, Ipsos sought to find out what Malaysians’ perception of crime and law enforcement and compared the same data with our Southeast Asian peers, namely Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand.

Only 18% of Malaysians believe crime has increased over the past 12 months

According to the study, only 18% of Malaysians believed that crime has increased in their neighbourhood in the last 12 months, 5% lower than what it was in 2023.

This is also far lower than the 31% average recorded from the overall study of 31 countries.

Further delving into the survey reveals that 18% of Malaysians believe that crime has decreased, 50% think crime has remained the same and 14% said they didn’t know.

A majority of Malaysians believe that poverty and unemployment are the main causes of crime and corruption

As for the primary cause of crime and corruption in the country, 57% of Malaysians agree that poverty and unemployment are the primary causes. 

Meanwhile, 50% also agree that it was due to ineffective law enforcement, 42% said it was due to drug and alcohol abuse, 39% relate it to a corrupt political environment, 28% agree that it was due to a breakdown of traditional values and 28% said that crime and corruption was due to a lack of education.

Malaysians trust in the country’s law enforcement authorities is increasing

Besides that, the Ipsos study found that Malaysians are more confident towards the law enforcement authorities in treating everyone equally and preventing crimes.

66% of Malaysians said that they’re confident with our law enforcement to treat all citizens with the same level of respect, which is 8% higher than the 31-country average.

Moreover, 65% of Malaysians are confident that law enforcement will find and arrest the correct criminal after a crime; 9% higher than the 31-country average.

65% of Malaysians are also confident that law enforcement will stop non-violent crimes such as burglaries, thefts or fraud from happening (12% higher than the 31-country average) and that law enforcement will stop violent crimes from happening (14% higher than the 31-country average).

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According to Ipsos, 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.

So, what do you guys think of the Ipsos’s studies findings? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.

Also read: Study: 68% of M’sians Believe Nation’s Economy is in Recession, 53% are Just Getting by Financially