KUALA LUMPUR: Violent and property crime cases have decreased by 21.4% in 2020 from 83,456 to 65,623, said Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin (pic).

       He said violent crime dropped by 19.5% to 13,279 cases in 2020 while property crime decreased by 21.8% to record 52,344 cases during the same period in 2019.

       "Among the reasons for the decrease in criminal cases were restrictions on social activities and cross-district and state borders following the Movement Control Order (MCO).

       "In addition, stricter enforcement activities by the authorities and public awareness in enhancing protection from the threat of crime,” he said in a statement on Friday (Nov 26).

       Mohd Uzir said based on the record of violent crime cases by the administrative district, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan recorded the highest percentage of decrease in 2020 with 40.6% to 326 cases from 549 cases in 2019.

       This was followed by Johor Bahru (-36.7%) and Melaka Tengah (-26.3%), while in terms of property crime, Seberang Perai Tengah, Penang recorded the highest decrease of 35.8% to 982 cases in 2020 from 1,529 cases in 2019.

       Mohd Uzir said, on the other hand, the number of cyber crime complaints received by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission in 2020 increased by 99.5% to 20,805 complaints compared to 10,426 in 2019.

       He added that the highest increase in complaints was for false element which was 117.6% to record 6,637 in 2020 from 3,050 in the previous year.

       DOSM on Friday published the Crime Statistics, Malaysia, 2021, which comprised eight selected crime statistics, namely crime index, drugs, corruptions, environment, traffic offences, cyber crime, maritime crime and correctional facility. - Bernama