KUALA LUMPUR: The government is seeking to place Malaysia among the top 10 most peaceful countries in the world according to the Global Peace Index by the year 2025.
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According to the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) report, these will be achieved through the slew of initiatives that will be planned and implemented within the next five years to enhance the security of the country subsequently protect the wellbeing of the people.
Malaysia was ranked 16th as the most peaceful country in the world, according to the Global Peace Index in 2019.
The 12MP report added that the government is aiming to reduce the nation’s crime index to 238 cases per 100,000 population by the year 2025.
This follows the success achieved under the 11MP, where the nation’s enforcement authorities had reduced the crime index to 194 cases per 100,000 population last year.
The report also said the government is aiming to bring down the police response time to distress calls to 10 minutes, which it could not achieve under the 11MP.
During implementation in the previous (11th) Malaysia Plan, the police response time to distress calls was reduced to 13 minutes, which is five minutes below the targeted eight minutes in police response time.
The government also plans to reduce drug-related laws over the next five years. The review is to expand the definition of drugs and substances to cover new psychoactive substances (NPS) – which range from drugs designed to mimic existing illicit drugs – as well as ketum.
“In addition, relevant legal provisions will also be amended to de-list drug addicts who are not involved in crime from the register of criminal and undesirable persons.
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“This is to provide them with a second chance in life for employment opportunities.
“The authorities will enhance integrated and coordinated surveillance as well as operations to combat drug trafficking,” the report said.
In addition, the report said the government plans to implement more probation and community correction programmes as an alternative to imprisonment.
This is among the several measures that will be undertaken by the government to improve the management and operation of prisons across the country.
“These alternatives include compulsory attendance order, deferred sentences, day parole, home detention, court order parole, and prison supervision,” said the report.
The government, under the 12MP, will also plan a holistic plan to improve detention centres as well as rehabilitation and correctional programmes.
“Prisons will be upgraded to provide a more conducive environment and adequate space for rehabilitation programmes,” said the report. -NST