‘Women continue to play vital roles in society as mothers, daughters, professionals, entrepreneurs, students and community leaders. They should be able to live, work and travel without fear’
PETALING JAYA: Crime prevention awareness, not just law enforcement, is the key to making Malaysia safer for women, Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said yesterday.
Lee said women remained among the most vulnerable targets of crime – from snatch theft and stalking to online scams, sexual harassment and domestic violence – and that awareness was their strongest line of defence.
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“It is not about living in fear, but about being informed, alert and confident.”
He said while law enforcement agencies bore primary responsibility for public safety, crime prevention was a shared duty that required collective action from men, families, employers, schools, community organisations and the authorities.
“Awareness remains one of our strongest forms of protection,“ Lee said.
He added that many offences commonly affecting women – including cyberstalking, identity theft, online sexual exploitation, blackmail involving personal images, drink spiking and sexual assault – could be prevented or their risks significantly reduced through greater vigilance and preparedness.
Lee said crime prevention awareness meant recognising suspicious situations, safeguarding personal information online, adopting safe travel habits, reporting harassment promptly and looking out for one another.
He stressed that the responsibility of ensuring women’s safety should not fall on women alone.
“Women continue to play vital roles in society as mothers, daughters, professionals, entrepreneurs, students and community leaders. They should be able to live, work and travel without fear.”
Lee called for stronger structural measures including effective policing, safer public spaces, improved street lighting, wider CCTV coverage and swift action against offenders to create environments where women felt more secure.
He also urged continued efforts to educate and empower women to speak out against crime and violence, while fostering communities built on respect and mutual care.
“Together, we can make our homes, workplaces, streets and digital spaces safer for everyone,” he added.
