Crime data is more than a record of unlawful acts. It is a critical tool for shaping justice, safety and effective public policy. In criminology, such data helps guide efforts to understand criminal behaviour, allocate resources and assess the impact of law enforcement and social interventions. Yet in Malaysia, access to crime data remains limited…
The recent proposal by Kelantan police chief, Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat, that underage girls – not just their male counterparts – who are involved in consensual sexual activity should also be prosecuted raises serious legal, ethical, and policy concerns. While his intention to address the rising trend of teenage sexual activity is understandable, the solution…
What deters crime, pain or principle? This question lies at the centre of an increasingly urgent conversation about justice and punishment in Malaysia. For decades, the nation has upheld judicial caning as a tool not only of legal enforcement but of symbolic state authority – a ritualistic expression of control, discipline, and swift justice. The…
The Royal Malaysian Police, Royal Malaysian Customs Department, or branches of the armed forces that bear the “royal” designation often remind us of honour, duty and service to the nation. This is not merely a bureaucratic label. In Malaysia, the label “royal” signifies a direct association with the Yang diPertuan Agong, and the sovereignty of…
The Education Ministry’s plan to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems in boarding schools has been welcomed as a step towards safer campuses. It signals that student safety is a priority. From a criminological perspective, this reflects situational crime prevention – making misconduct less attractive by increasing the perception of surveillance. Cameras in dormitories, halls, and…
he incident at the Perak state-level National Day celebration in Ipoh today, where a woman breached the main stage and came dangerously close to the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, is unsettling. Although the suspect was unarmed and believed to have a history of psychiatric treatment, the matter cannot be dismissed as a mere…
Public confidence in justice depends on evidence, not rumours, and on investigations free from fear or favour. The purpose of this commentary is to give the public a clear and in-depth understanding of how police should professionally investigate a sudden, unexplained death, whether alleged to be a suicide or a possible murder. By outlining the…
In recent years, Malaysia has seen a noticeable rise in individuals publicly adopting the prestigious title “Dr” before their names. Traditionally, this honorific is reserved for those who have earned a doctorate (PhD or equivalent) from accredited and recognised institutions, whether in Malaysia or abroad. Medical professionals – including doctors, dentists and veterinarians – also…
