ecent incidents of violent crime in Malaysia, particularly gang-related killings carried out in broad daylight and with disturbing brutality, have understandably generated public anxiety.

Graphic descriptions, viral videos and the rapid circulation of crime-related content on social media have intensified the perception that violence is spiralling out of control.

While these concerns should not be dismissed, a criminological analysis requires us to separate perception from evidence, and emotion from empirical reality.

Gang-related violence, including cruel and gruesome killings, is not new in Malaysia or elsewhere. Historically, organised crime groups have relied on extreme violence to enforce discipline, send warnings and assert dominance.

What has changed is not necessarily the scale of such violence, but its visibility. Social media platforms now ensure that violent incidents reach the public instantly, repeatedly and often without context.

This heightened exposure creates a sense of escalation even when official crime statistics may show fluctuation rather than a clear upward trajectory.

Violent crime is often simplistically attributed to poverty, but this explanation is incomplete and sometimes misleading. Poverty may create conditions of strain, frustration and vulnerability, yet it does not automatically translate into violent behaviour.

Many individuals living in economically disadvantaged circumstances do not resort to crime. Criminological theories such as strain theory and social disorganisation theory suggest that violence is more likely when economic hardship intersects with weak social controls, peer criminal networks and limited legitimate pathways for status and success.

In the case of gang violence, economic deprivation alone is rarely the primary driver. Gang-related killings are more commonly linked to turf disputes, debt collection, betrayal, internal power struggles and competition within illicit markets such as drugs, illegal gambling and human trafficking.

These crimes are instrumental, calculated and symbolic. Poverty may be part of the background, but it is neither an excuse nor the principal cause.

Violence should not be interpreted as society losing its ability to think or reason. Rather, it reflects subcultures operating with their own distorted value systems. Within gangs, violence is often normalised and even rewarded.

Decisions are made rationally within a criminal framework, where fear, reputation and survival override moral or legal considerations.

From a criminological standpoint, this is not irrationality but bounded rationality – choices made within limited and deviant social environments. The problem lies not in a collective societal breakdown of reasoning, but in the persistence of marginalised groups where criminal norms dominate due to prolonged exposure, lack of intervention and intergenerational criminal socialisation.

There is a growing tendency, particularly in public discourse and online commentary, to rationalise or relativise criminal behaviour by citing circumstances such as poverty, lack of education or social exclusion.

While these factors deserve serious policy attention, they should never be used to legitimise violence.

This moral relativism is dangerous. When society begins to justify murder, extortion or brutality as “understandable”, it erodes the clear boundary between right and wrong.

Criminology recognises structural disadvantages, but it also emphasises accountability. Understanding causation is not the same as excusing conduct. A society that blurs this distinction risks normalising violence and weakening deterrence.

The police and enforcement agencies carry an immense burden in combating violent and organised crime, often with limited resources and under intense public scrutiny. However, crime prevention cannot rest solely on law enforcement.

Community leaders, educators, religious figures, civil society organisations and local influencers play a crucial role in shaping values, mentoring youth and identifying early warning signs of criminal drift.

In some areas, community engagement has weakened due to urbanisation, fragmented neighbourhoods and declining trust in institutions.

This vacuum allows gangs to fill the role of “protector”, “provider” or “identity-giver”, particularly for vulnerable youths. While generalisation should be avoided, there is room for greater proactive involvement from community leadership in prevention, early intervention and rehabilitation efforts.

The idolisation of wrong role models

One of the most troubling cultural trends is the glamorisation of criminals and gang leaders.

Social media has amplified the visibility of individuals with dubious track records, portraying them as symbols of wealth, power and rebellion.

When criminal figures are admired more than scientists, teachers, doctors or scholars, society sends a dangerous message about what constitutes success.

This phenomenon is not unique to Malaysia, but it is particularly damaging in a young, digitally connected population.

Criminological research consistently shows that role modelling plays a significant role in shaping behaviour. When crime is glamorised and professionalism is ignored, the moral compass of impressionable youth becomes distorted.

The way forward: Evidence, not emotion

Ultimately, sweeping conclusions drawn from isolated incidents are unhelpful. What Malaysia Madani needs is a comprehensive, scientific and multidisciplinary study on violent crime trends – one that integrates criminology, sociology, psychology, economics and data analytics.

Such research should examine not only crime statistics, but also media influence, gang structures, recruitment pathways and community resilience.

Policy responses must be grounded in evidence rather than fear. Enforcement remains critical, but it must be complemented by prevention, education, community empowerment and credible role modelling.

Violent crime, particularly gang violence, is complex and multifaceted. Simplistic narratives do a disservice to both public understanding and long-term solutions.

Malaysia Madani’s challenge is not merely to suppress violence, but to understand it deeply – without excuses, without denial, and without losing sight of justice, accountability and social responsibility.

DATO’ DR P. SUNDRAMOORTHY
Criminologist
Centre for Policy Research
Universiti Sains Malaysia