9,496 crime cases involving foreigners recorded from January to August

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 9,496 crime cases involving foreigners were recorded between January and August this year, Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
He said the number made up 11.2% of the overall 85,029 crime cases recorded in the country during the period.
"Although the number of crime cases involving foreigners was still small compared to the overall crime index, police have always given serious attention in combating crime involving foreigners as it will affect the locals."
Ahmad Zahid said this in his written reply to Zuraida Kamaruddin (PKR-Ampang) who wanted to know the number of illegal immigrants and foreign workers involved in crime cases in the country and the ministry's plan of action to address the problem.
He said of the total, 2,306 of the cases involving the foreigners were related to serious crimes, namely murder (167), rape (138), armed gang robbery (108), unarmed gang robbery (1,008), armed robbery (10), unarmed robbery (377) and causing hurt (498).
The remaining 7,190 cases were related to property crimes, namely theft (1,871), car-theft (568), motorcycle-theft (1,252), heavy vehicle-theft (78), snatch theft (318) and house break in (3,103).
Ahmad Zahid said several actions had been taken to curb criminal activities among foreigners in the country, including an integrated operation involving the police, Immigration Department, Education Ministry, Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry, as well as the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission.
Besides, police had also collaborated with the communities and local authorities and improved the effectiveness of the closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) system in monitoring the crime hot spots in the country.
"The biometric finger prints of all foreign workers have also been collected under the 6P programme to detect second visit and registration of criminal record," he added. – Bernama