To be clear, Malaysia is still more safe than places like India, and Pakistan. It is also more safe than northern Mexico and other drug-riddled areas. Yet while India and Pakistan are both developing countries, and Mexico is caught in the midst of a massive drug war, Malaysia is a fast growing middle income country. There is no major drug war being fought, most people enjoy reasonable income levels, the government runs a large welfare system, and the economy continues to grow at a fast rate.
If anything, crime should be dropping as the country continues to modernize. Yet across the country, crime appears to be on the rise. This is especially true for violent crimes as a string of high-profile shootings has rocked the nation this year. The U.S. Embassy has also warned American citizens to watch out for purse snatching, and the online data collection site Numbeo has recorded an increase in its crime perceptions index.
