KUCHING: Crime rates in Sarawak have declined this year, although cases involving commercial crimes have shown an increase.
Sarawak Police Commissioner, Datuk Mohamad Zainal Abdullah, said that a total of 3,558 criminal cases were reported across the State in the first nine months of this year – a 10 per cent decrease from 3,965 cases during the same period last year.
“Violent crime recorded 463 cases compared with 480 cases in 2024, with a case clearance rate of 98 per cent.
“However, certain categories of violent crime have increased. Rape cases rose from 116 in 2024 to 123 this year, while unarmed robbery cases increased from 42 to 48,” he said.
He said this during the Sarawak Contingent Police monthly assembly at the State Police Headquarters here today.
For property crimes, Mohamad Zainal said 3,095 cases were recorded compared with 3,485 cases last year, reflecting an 11 per cent decrease.
“However, vehicle theft increased by 24 per cent to 214 cases from 172 cases last year, while residential burglaries rose slightly to 874 cases from 868,” he said.
As a proactive measure, he said the Sarawak Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is leveraging social media to engage with the public through TikTok and Facebook accounts: CID_SARAWAK OFFICIAL.
“The platforms also serve as a tool for crime prevention, particularly in areas such as bullying, fraud, and other offences. Important information, safety notices, and warnings can be shared quickly and widely with the public,” he said.
Members of the public are encouraged to provide tips or lodge complaints via the CID hotline at 013-5253052.
During the same period, Mohamad Zainal said the Sarawak Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department recorded 8,540 drug-related arrests, including 491 dealers, 1,639 owners, and 6,410 users.
“This figure represents a 1.6 per cent increase from 8,404 arrests last year, with drug seizures valued at RM28.4 million, up RM3.3 million from the same period in 2024.
“Among the major seizures were MDMA (282.8 kg), methamphetamine (174 kg), cannabis (72.2 kg), ketamine (4.5 kg), Erimin 5 pills (13,428 tablets), ecstasy pills (7,209 tablets), and MDMB Pinaka (243 pods),” he said.
He added that the value of forfeited assets rose to RM12.4 million from RM1.1 million last year, including RM5.7 million in cash, RM1 million in 31 bank accounts, RM4 million in gold bars, luxury vehicles, Rolex watches, 25 pieces of jewellery, and six luxury handbags.
“For commercial crimes, 3,016 cases were recorded compared with 1,876 last year – an increase of 60.8 per cent.
“Online fraud, including e-commerce, investment, fake loan scams, and telecommunication fraud, was the main contributor to the increase,” he said.
The police’s achievements, he said, also included the arrests of syndicates involved in fraud and criminal breach of trust causing losses of nearly RM1.6 million, monitoring of mule accounts, and several special operations such as Ops Merpati and Ops NSRC (Mule).
Later, the Sarawak Police contingent also launched the Sarawak Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department hotline at 017-5929211 as a strategic initiative to facilitate the direct submission of information and complaints to the police, particularly on drug distribution and abuse activities across the state.
