KUCHING: Sarawak recorded a 25.5 percent decrease in crime index during the first seven months of this year with 568 cases reported, compared to the same period last year.
Property crime also decreased by 40.73 percent with 848 cases reported.
Most of the crimes were committed by people between the ages of 26 to 40 years.
These were revealed by Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah after receiving a courtesy call from Deputy Commissioner Police Mancha Ata at her office in the Baitul Makmur II building here, this Wednesday (Aug 18).
“Of the total arrests numbering 1,652 cases as of July this year, 9.4 percent (156 cases) were related to drug and substance abuse. A total of 766 cases (67.31 percent) were related to online gambling.
“JSJN is actively conducting aggressive operations to curtail online gambling in Sarawak,” she said.
Fatimah also said there were 37 cases of suicide recorded from January to July this year compared to 40 cases In the same period last year. Most suicide cases were committed by men, she noted.
“Among the causes identified are mental health issues, relationship breakup, family problems, indebtedness and drug and substance abuse,” she said.
Fatimah hoped that the close collaboration between the police and her ministry since 2016 would continue for the wellbeing of the community in Sarawak.
